New York City is preparing to adopt one of the strictest frameworks for Artificial Intelligence in education. According to sources familiar with the matter, the city plans to ban the use of AI tools by public school students up to the 8th grade, aiming to protect the educational process from the uncontrolled generation of assignments and answers.
Restrictions and Exceptions
AI use will be permitted for high school students, but only under specific conditions. Exceptions will primarily focus on teaching the technology itself and participation in approved pilot programs. Furthermore, the framework includes a ban on chatbots acting as digital "companions" for emotional or psychological support, a category of apps causing growing concern regarding minors.
In contrast, teachers will be allowed to use AI tools for tasks such as lesson preparation, organizing educational material, and drafting messages. Additionally, the Department of Education is proposing screen time limits: up to 45 minutes for middle schoolers and 30 minutes for elementary students.
A Policy Shift
These stricter guidelines follow an initial document from March that was criticized by parents and educators for being too lenient. NYC Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels admitted that authorities "missed the mark" with the previous policy, which allowed AI use for research and creative projects without clear age limits.
The effectiveness of the ban remains a challenge, as students often access AI tools on personal devices outside the school network. A dedicated working group involving experts and educators is expected to submit a report by April 2027, which will serve as the foundation for New York's long-term AI educational policy.
