Posted by Chinenye on Wed 02nd Sep, 2026 - tori.ng
New York City is taking a tougher stance on artificial intelligence in schools, with new rules set to keep younger students away from the technology.
(Artificial intelligence. Photo Credit: Punch News)
New York City is banning artificial intelligence use for students up to eighth grade in its public schools.
Teachers and parents have raised concerns that AI could harm kids' mental health and how their brains develop, plus it damages the environment.
AI will only be allowed starting in ninth grade, and even then only for specific purposes like learning about the technology itself.
The ban does not apply to teachers they can still use AI to prepare lessons or write messages.
The city will also block "companion chatbots" that claim to offer psychological support to students.
The new rules come after parents and teachers heavily criticised an earlier framework from March that was seen as too loose.
That version allowed students to use AI for research, exploration and creative projects, but many complained it wasn't strict enough.
The city's schools leader admitted they "missed the mark" in how they communicated the policy and said they would listen to feedback.
For now, the education department recommends that middle school students spend no more than 45 minutes on screens during class, while elementary students should have just 30 minutes.
The challenge is monitoring AI use since much of it happens outside school.
The city plans to set up a team of teachers, officials, experts and union representatives to study the issue further.
They will produce a report in April that will inform the final AI policy.
New York City's school policies matter beyond the city because it runs the largest school district in the United States, with over 900,000 students.