TL;DR — Key Takeaways
- New York City plans to ban generative AI tools for roughly 600,000 students through eighth grade, while allowing restricted use in high schools.
- The policy also limits classroom screen time, with younger students facing the strictest restrictions.
- Officials cite concerns about critical thinking, creativity, privacy, bias and student development as reasons for the new rules.
AI has been expelled from the New York City school system, the nation’s largest, a move seen as the most restrictive of its kind in the U.S. The AI ban would extend to approximately 600,000 students through 8th grade.
The AI ban, announced by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and schools chancellor Kamar Samuels, is being met with widespread support, especially from parents. The AI policy would ban the use of generative AI tools like chatbots, AI tutors and instructional programs. AI use would be allowed in the city’s high schools but only on a “restricted” basis.
“The tech industry wants us to believe that AI-powered early education is not only inevitable, but necessary,” said Mayor Mamdani. “We do not see it that way.”
New York City education officials also are moving to restrict the amount of screen time students are exposed to via personal learning devices in class. Students in preschool through second grade would have no access. Grades three to five would be limited to 30 minutes per day while middle schoolers would be allowed 45 minutes per day. “We’re putting guardrails in place to protect the critical human connection, curiosity and creativity that help children grow,” said schools chancellor Samuels.
New York City officials cited a number of student risks associated with AI. Most concerning was the erosion of the thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills students must develop themselves. Also on the risk list were incidents of bias, privacy violations, loss of agency, developmental harms, and exposure to unfair discipline. The new restrictions come after significant pushback from parents to less restrictive AI guidelines considered in March. Teachers’ unions have aligned themselves with parental concerns. Teachers have been increasingly frustrated by their inability to detect AI cheating by students on class assignments. State education officials acknowledge the problem but do little to help teachers address it, according to the education website Chalkbeat.
Some exceptions to the new restrictions may include certain approved instructional programs across all grades, e-books, coding software, disability aids and English as a second language instruction. The New York City Department of Education believes its $40 billion budget will entice tech companies to design AI products suitable to its needs. Any AI tools must go through an Enterprise Request Management Application (ERMA) review.
AI prohibitions also are affecting teachers. Approved AI tools can be used for administrative and instructional tasks like lesson planning, translations and communication. However, AI cannot be used for grading, student monitoring, counseling, and special education plans.
An AI backlash in schools is gathering momentum. Half the 45 candidates running for the Chicago school board positions say they are in favor of AI restrictions, according to the website Block Club Chicago. At the international level, Norway has already announced a ban on generative AI tools through 7th grade and allows only teacher-supervised use through age 16. The AI restrictions came after a nationwide drop in test scores attributed to the “cognitive shortcutting” engendered by AI. Norway, a country with a strong digital infrastructure, also has increased funding for books.