- Mayor Zohran Mamdani announces a ban on AI use for students until high school.
- Throughout the 2026-2027 school year, a task force of students, teachers, parents, elected officials and industry experts will meet to assess the impact of the moratorium before publishing its findings.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a ban on artificial intelligence use for students until high school, impacting nearly 600,000 public school pupils through eighth grade. The ban, revealed Wednesday, will be closely monitored as the city's school board is the largest in the U.S.1
Only high school students, typically aged 14 and above, will be allowed to engage in limited AI pilot programs, which will include biannual AI literacy classes. Companion chatbots for emotional support will be banned across all grades. Mayor Mamdani emphasized the importance of human connection in education, stating, "Children need teachers and human connection in order to learn and grow. They need to develop skills alongside their peers, build relationships with educators and wrestle with tough problems on their own."
Teachers will still be permitted to use AI for lesson planning and administrative tasks. A task force comprising students, teachers, parents, elected officials, and industry experts will evaluate the moratorium's impact throughout the 2026-2027 school year. Governor Kathy Hochul remarked, "We have a responsibility to ensure that rapidly-changing technology supports our children and their learning, rather than getting in the way of it." This decision follows a previous framework that allowed AI use for research and creative projects, which faced backlash from parents and teachers.
Chancellor Kamar Samuels acknowledged the need for better communication, stating that leaders had "missed the mark" and would review feedback for future rules.
“The moratorium will be evaluated by a task force of students, teachers, parents, elected officials and industry experts throughout the 2026-2027 school year. Their findings will be published after the assessment, shaping future AI policy in city schools.”
