New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a ban on artificial intelligence in public schools. This one-year ban, effective in the 2026-2027 academic year, affects approximately 600,000 students up to the eighth grade.

Mayor Mamdani stated that this decision is a commitment to building a real future. He said they will embrace new technologies, but only when they serve the students.

New Era and Restrictions in Education

New York Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized that the state is a leader in ensuring children focus on learning. The ban aims to protect human interaction in classrooms. The goal is for students to develop problem-solving and social skills through teachers and friends rather than chatbots. The effects of technology on children will be analyzed over the one-year period. A coalition of educators, parents, and officials will determine the next steps at the end of this period.

High school students are not included in this ban. Some high school classes may participate in various AI pilot programs that will be closely monitored. All high school students will take classes twice a year aimed at enabling them to think critically before trusting AI. Teachers may continue to use productive AI tools in lesson planning and administrative tasks, provided they comply with safety standards.

Exceptions and Screen Time Regulations

Exceptions will apply for students with disabilities, multilingual learners, and those participating in vocational training programs, including computer science. Current policy also brings new screen time guidelines for children. A limit of 30 minutes per day is recommended for elementary school students, and 45 minutes for middle school students. These limits are recommendations and are left to the discretion of families.

This step was taken as a result of increasing pressure from parents concerned about the effects of artificial intelligence on children. Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Teachers Federation, stated that artificial intelligence can be dangerous and that parents are right to protect their children. Similar restrictions are also implemented in countries such as Norway and Italy. The US Congress is also debating whether to ban artificial intelligence companies from implementing age verification processes and providing chatbots to children. The technology industry spent $41.8 million on lobbying in the first half of 2026. Mayor Mamdani emphasized that they do not agree with the idea that AI-based early education is inevitable. How do you think the use of artificial intelligence in schools affects children’s development?