A school in New York has halted plans to introduce a £45,000 humanoid robot named Sally following parental concerns about privacy and the manufacturer’s association with lifelike sex robots. The district had initially proposed deploying Sally to assist students with coding and technical tasks, emphasizing that the robot was intended to supplement, not replace, teaching staff.

The decision to suspend the installation came after parents raised objections regarding data security and the potential implications of using technology developed by a company also involved in producing sex robots. These concerns prompted school officials to reconsider the robot’s role within the educational environment.

Representatives from the school district stated that Sally’s primary function was to engage students in STEM subjects and provide support for technical issues, positioning the robot as an educational tool rather than a substitute for human instruction. However, the combination of privacy worries and discomfort with the manufacturer’s background led to the device being withdrawn from active use.

As of now, the robot remains in the school’s storage while further evaluations are conducted. The district has not ruled out revisiting the initiative in the future, pending reassurances about data protection and community acceptance.