Mamdani to Restrict AI Use in Classrooms for Students
News Desk
New York: New York City is adopting a cautious approach to artificial intelligence in education, with Mayor Zahran Mamdani announcing a one-year restriction on AI use by public elementary and middle school students up to eighth grade.
The policy is expected to affect approximately 600,000 students and suspend access to around 40 AI-powered educational tools currently being used in the city’s public schools.
The move is emerging as one of the most significant restrictions on artificial intelligence introduced by a major US school district. It comes as educators and policymakers continue to debate how and when children should be introduced to rapidly developing AI technologies.
At the heart of the debate is a fundamental question: should students learn to use AI from an early age, or should they first develop the ability to think, solve problems and learn independently without relying on artificial intelligence?
Mamdani has defended the restrictions, saying younger students need meaningful interaction with teachers and classmates to build important academic and social skills.
According to the mayor, children should have opportunities to learn collaboratively, form relationships with their teachers and develop the confidence to tackle challenging problems on their own rather than turning to AI for immediate answers.
High school students to receive controlled AI access
The restrictions will be different for high school students. Older students will be allowed to use artificial intelligence in specific circumstances and will receive instruction designed to help them understand how the technology works and how it should be used responsibly.
AI chatbots, however, will remain banned across all grade levels under the new policy.
Teachers will still be allowed to use AI for certain professional tasks, including lesson preparation and selected administrative responsibilities. The policy will also include exemptions for students with special educational needs and participants in certain approved programmes.
From ChatGPT restrictions to a wider AI debate
New York City’s public school system has previously taken steps to limit artificial intelligence in classrooms. In 2022, it temporarily blocked access to ChatGPT before later reversing the decision.
The latest policy reflects a wider change in the conversation surrounding AI in education. Instead of focusing solely on whether artificial intelligence should be allowed in schools, officials are increasingly examining when students are mature and prepared enough to use the technology effectively.
The city is not presenting the restrictions as a permanent ban. Officials intend to use the one-year period to examine how AI affects students’ learning, problem-solving abilities and interactions inside classrooms.
Authorities will evaluate the results of the policy and use their findings to develop recommendations for the city’s future approach to artificial intelligence in education.
The decision places New York City at the centre of an expanding international debate over the role of AI in schools. As educational institutions around the world race to respond to increasingly sophisticated AI tools, New York is pursuing a different strategy: allowing younger students to strengthen essential human skills first, while introducing artificial intelligence more gradually as they progress through their education.
