NYC bans AI tools in public schools through 8th grade

new york city has banned the use of ai tools in public schools through eighth grade starting with the new school year. this decision affects around 600000 students who can no longer use individual screens through third grade and companion chatbots at any grade level. the department of education recommends no more than 45 minutes of screen time a day for middle schoolers. teachers are allowed to use ai for lesson preparation but not for grading. the move is driven by concerns that over-reliance on ai might hinder students' development of independent thinking. parent groups like parents for ai caution argue that the rules are too weak and advocate for a full two-year moratorium on ai in the classroom. a task force will be formed to create a report by april 2027 that will serve as the basis for future ai policy in new york schools.