New York City Bans AI Use for 600,000 Elementary and Middle School Students

NYC bans AI use for students until they reach high school

New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced a new policy today that will ban younger schoolchildren from using AI in classrooms. The one-year moratorium, effective in the 2026-2027 school year, will impact about 600,000 public school students in 2-K through eighth grade and is being introduced alongside additional limits on digital devices and a small pilot program for AI education tools. The new rules being introduced by NYC's Department of Education will bar teachers from using AI tools to grade assignments, and keep students from using the technology in the classroom until they enter high school, with chatbots designed specifically for companionship and mental support reportedly being banned in all grades. High school aged students will only be permitted to use AI in specific instances, and they'll be offered AI literacy classes twice a year to help students "think critically" before they come to "rely on it." "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," Mamdani said in a statement. "The tech industry wants us to believe that AI-powered early education is not only inevitable, but necessary. We do not see it that way." Use of individual screens will be banned until third grade. The department is also issuing recommended screen time limitations, which include a maximum of 45 minutes per day for middle schoolers. Teachers will still be permitted to use AI for lesson planning, and exceptions may be granted for AI tools that help students with disabilities or multilingual students. Exceptions can also be granted for particular purposes like computer science programs. A "limited AI pilot" program will also be offered at up to five classes in a "small number" of high school classrooms, using tools that were vetted to meet safety and data privacy standards, and "keeping students as the primary thinker." Tools being piloted by this program have set time limits for usage, and include Quill for English language support, Edia for math, Brisk Teaching for guiding study practice, and Playlab and Intel AI-Ready Schools for multi-subject support. These changes follow NYC's public school system introducing a bell-to-bell ban on "personal internet-enabled electronic devices" (including smartphones) for the 2025-2026 school year. NYC district leaders say the new AI moratorium for classrooms is one of the most restrictive policies in the US, though some countries like Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands have implemented nationwide changes to address similar concerns about the impact that technology is having on developing minds.

Mamdani imposes one-year ban on AI for most NYC students

AI has gone from the pages of a sci-fi novel into something present in nearly every aspect of our lives. More Videos 0 of 1 minute, 1 secondVolume 0% Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts Keyboard ShortcutsEnabledDisabled Shortcuts Open/Close/ or ? Play/PauseSPACE Increase Volume↑ Decrease Volume↓ Seek Forward→ Seek Backward← Captions On/Offc Fullscreen/Exit Fullscreenf Mute/Unmutem Decrease Caption Size- Increase Caption Size+ or = Seek %0-9 Next Up Mamdani announces AI ban for young students in NYC schools Subtitle Settings OffEnglish Font Color White Font Opacity 100% Font Size 100% Font Family knowledge-bold Character Edge None Edge Color Black Background Color Black Background Opacity 85 Window Color Black Window Opacity 0% Reset WhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyan 100%75%50%25% 200%175%150%125%100%75%50% ArialCourierGeorgiaImpactLucida ConsoleTahomaTimes New RomanTrebuchet MSVerdana NoneRaisedDepressedUniformDrop Shadow WhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyan WhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyan 100%75%50%25%0% WhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyan 100%75%50%25%0% Auto480p1080p720p576p540p480p360p288p180p 00:03 00:57 01:01 NEW YORK, Sept 2 (Reuters) - New York City officials announced a one-year moratorium on students using artificial intelligence in public elementary and middle schools, the latest step by public officials to set guidelines around new technology in the classroom. The move by the nation's largest school district is the most restrictive to date across the U.S., though other districts, including Los Angeles, have said they are reviewing ⁠AI policies. Mayor Zohran Mamdani told reporters on Wednesday that schools would halt the current use of about 40 educational tools in New York City classrooms. "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," Mamdani said at a press conference. Major ⁠AI developers Google, Anthropic and Microsoft did not immediately reply to requests for comment. The policy will affect about 600,000 public school students through eighth grade, while high school students will be allowed to ⁠use AI in some cases. Teachers will be permitted to use AI for lesson planning and tasks such as scheduling, the city said ⁠in a statement. New York City public schools previously imposed a temporary ban on ChatGPT soon after its rollout ⁠in 2022. The restriction was later lifted and replaced by a custom AI-powered teaching assistant, according to Microsoft, part-owner of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI. Reporting by Maria Tsvetkova; editing by David Gaffen Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

A.I. Is Largely to Be Banned in N.Y.C. Elementary and Middle Schools

A new policy to be announced by the Department of Education bars younger students from using A.I., but stops short of a moratorium. When New York City public schoolchildren return to the classroom next week, younger students will be barred from using artificial intelligence. No individual screens will be allowed until third grade. And teachers will not be able to ask A.I. to grade assignments. Those rules on technology use are part of a sweeping new policy to be announced on Wednesday by the city's Department of Education that will place strict limits on digital devices and A.I. tools in the city's school system -- the nation's largest -- particularly for its elementary and middle-school students. Still, some parents and groups that had called for a two-year moratorium on A.I. in schools said that the guidelines were disappointing. Under the rules, about 600,000 students in the city's schools -- about two-thirds of all students in New York City public schools -- will not be allowed to use A.I. until they enter high school, and even then, it will be permitted only in specific cases. The department is also recommending caps on screen time, such as limiting middle schoolers to no more than 45 minutes a day. So-called companion chatbots, which offer emotional and mental support, will be banned in all grades. City leaders on Tuesday framed the new policy as one of the most restrictive policies on technology in the classroom in the country. "The tech industry wants us to believe that A.I.-powered early education is not only inevitable, but necessary. We do not see it that way," Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a statement. Kamar Samuels, the schools chancellor, said in a statement that the department would not "conflate innovation with more tech." "We're putting guardrails in place to protect the critical human connection, curiosity, and creativity that help children grow," he said. Parents across the country have pushed back against the growing use of digital devices and A.I. in the classroom, saying that the technology has harmed students, limited their learning and encouraged cheating. The backlash has forced some school districts, including those in Los Angeles, to enact new restrictions on devices in schools. In New York City, parents from all backgrounds have increasingly spoken out about the rapid embrace of A.I. in schools and the instructional apps used by students, including those that resemble games. Some have formed groups calling for a pause on A.I. use, an effort that a majority of City Council members endorsed a few months ago. "This is certainly a step forward," said Eric Dinowitz, the chair of the Council's Committee on Education. "I still have a lot of questions." Mr. Dinowitz said he has urged department leaders to evaluate the A.I. tools to make sure that they improve student learning and cautioned them not to be swayed by the marketing claims of technology companies. Department leaders have spent the past months crafting a comprehensive guidebook on A.I. in the classroom, incorporating feedback from parents, elected officials and technology companies. They released an initial set of guidelines in March, which did not restrict digital devices or limit A.I. in some grades. Kelly Clancy, a Brooklyn parent who founded Parents for A.I. Caution, said that the department should have heeded the calls from parents like herself and imposed a temporary moratorium on the technology. "The fact that this policy exists at all is due to the enormous work of parents across the city who spoke out against the overreach of A.I. into their kids' classroom," Ms. Clancy said. She said that she was concerned that the policy might be less restrictive than it appears, noting that it has several exceptions that could allow for wider A.I. use. The new rules will not apply to "centrally approved instructional programs" across all grades, such as e-books and coding software, according to a department summary of the guidelines obtained by The New York Times. It will also not apply to some student tests, or tools to help students with disabilities, and those still learning English. New York City teachers will not face the same set of restrictions and can use A.I. in their jobs, including to help craft lesson plans, translate material and write messages. But there are limits: A.I. cannot be consulted for determining whether a student should graduate, for instance, or for deciding how to counsel a student in crisis. Department leaders presented the new rules to various stakeholders on Tuesday. Several people who attended the presentations said they still had many questions about the implementation, and on whether the department would now remove instructional apps that have already incorporated A.I. "What does that mean in a world where all software at this point is now using generative A.I. as part of their core features," said Naveed Hasan, a member of a city education oversight panel who has a background in technology policy. Mr. Hasan said that the Department of Education, whose roughly $40 billion budget is the largest of any city agency, had the power to force technology companies to change their apps. "Are we finally using the scale and scope of New York City's budget and purchasing power to push back on the people that are selling us stuff to tell them to design it in a way that works for us?" he said. "It remains to be seen."

New York City Bans AI From Elementary Schools

New York City is cracking down on the use of AI by roughly two-thirds of its students when schools open next week. The City's public school system is planning to impose a one-year blanket ban on the use of generative AI to teach students through eighth grade. Companion chatbots that claim to offer emotional and mental support will be banned for all students. "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," New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a press release. "The tech industry wants us to believe that A.I.-powered early education is not only inevitable, but necessary. We do not see it that way. That's why we're implementing a moratorium on generative AI for students in 2-K through 8th grade and spending the next year studying the impacts of this technology." For high schoolers, NYC will limit their AI use to five pilot programs that will be rolled out to 5% of the public school student body, and new, twice-yearly AI critical thinking modules that will roll out to all students. "The two 45-minute modules will introduce students to what AI is and is not, as well as AI-related bias, risks, ethical considerations and impacts on careers and future skills," the Mayor's office said in the press release. The five limited pilots will include Quill, which will be designed to "support close reading, text analysis and the use of evidence to support claims" in English language classes; Edia, which will assist math lessons; and Brisk Teaching, which will be available across subjects for teacher-created activities. The use of each will be limited to no more than 10 to 20 minutes per week. Students will also have access to Playlab, which will teach them to "examine AI outputs for bias and reasoning, and Intel AI-Ready Schools," which will direct them to "identify community problems and develop AI solutions through semester-long projects," the Mayor's office said. The guidelines will restrict teachers' use of AI, as well. Teachers will only be able to consult AI tools for operational tasks like lesson planning, translation and communication, and not for grading or counselling students. The New York City school district is the nation's largest, with the new rules set to impact roughly 600,000 students when they take effect next week. The Mayor's office said that it will form a coalition of students, educators, parent leaders, elected officials, advocates, union partners and experts to assess the efficiency of the new guidelines. Kids and teens are increasingly turning to AI chatbots for help with schoolwork, mental health advice, or even emotional support. But the technology's impact on the still-developing minds of kids is still not well understood. Psychologists have deemed children and teens to be particularly vulnerable to the chatbots' negative mental health consequences, often dubbed AI psychosis. Some high-profile cases involving minors and sustained chatbot use have ended in tragedy. Recent studies have also suggested that increased AI chatbot use could be related to a decline in cognitive ability. Faced with the mounting evidence and unhappy with the school district's previous draft guidance, a group of NYC parents had been demanding an even longer and more comprehensive two-year moratorium on generative AI use in schools. The guidelines come as both New York City and the state take a harsher stance on AI, from data centers to chatbots. Earlier this summer, New York became the first state to issue a moratorium on data centers. State lawmakers also recently passed a landmark AI safety bill that will require leading AI companies to develop, publish, and adhere to formal safety protocols. New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who is quoted in the press release for commending the Mayor's office for releasing the guidelines, has been outspoken about AI chatbots and the dangers they pose to minors as well. "Limiting access to AI chatbots for young people and making sure there are disclaimers so they understand this is not a real person that you think you're having a relationship with: that's an example where I think tech needs to be regulated," Hochul told The Verge's Decoder podcast over the weekend. "It went out of control and now the government has to perform a function to protect our residents and our young people, the most vulnerable." The new mandate also includes restrictions on the use of individual laptops and tablets. Students in preschool through second grade will no longer be able to use individual devices at all, while older elementary school students will face time limits of 30 to 45 minutes a day. But exceptions will reportedly be made for students who are actively learning English or are living with disabilities, as well as for the use of coding software.

New York bans AI in primary school, three months after Norway did

The largest school district in the United States is removing student-facing generative AI for around 600,000 children, three months after Norway did the same nationally, and the EU rulebook covers the software that grades pupils rather than the software that does their homework for them New York City is imposing a one-year moratorium on generative AI for pupils from 2-K through eighth grade, removing student-facing AI software and companion chatbots for around 600,000 children. Norway banned generative AI in its primary schools in June, and the EU AI Act regulates AI used on pupils rather than AI used by them. New York City is barring generative AI for pupils from pre-school through eighth grade. The moratorium covers around 600,000 children and starts with the 2026-27 school year, ABC News reported. Mayor Zohran Mamdani framed it as a refusal. "The tech industry wants us to believe that A.I.-powered early education is not only inevitable, but necessary", he said. "We do not see it that way." The district is removing software rather than issuing guidance. All student-facing generative AI is being eliminated and companion chatbots are banned outright, the mayor's office said. High schools are exempt, but narrowly. Up to 50,000 pupils can join five pilot programmes, capped at five classes per school, with twice-yearly literacy modules for everyone else. This is not the first such ban. Norway banned it in June for grades one to seven, with supervised use only up to 16. That ban took effect at the end of August. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said AI increases the risk of children skipping important steps in their education. Europe therefore has the bans already. What it does not have is an AI rulebook that reaches the question. The AI Act classifies education uses as high risk under Annex III. That means admission decisions, evaluation of learning outcomes, assessment of the appropriate level of education, and monitoring during tests. Every one of those is AI applied to a pupil by an institution. The rulebook covers the system that admits a child and the one detecting prohibited behaviour in an exam hall, not the chatbot writing the essay. Those obligations are also not in force yet. The Digital Omnibus pushed the Annex III deadline back to 2 December 2027. One member state stopped waiting. Italy's Law 132/2025 has required parental consent for under-14s to use AI since October last year. The only EU-wide duty already binding is literacy. Article 4 has obliged deployers to ensure sufficient AI literacy since February 2025, which makes New York's high school module a requirement Europe wrote first. So the pattern repeats. Restrictions on children and AI keep arriving from education ministries and national parliaments, as they did when Italy set a worrying precedent in 2023, rather than from Brussels.

New York City to ban generative AI until high school

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani enacted the ban. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) New York City Public Schools, the largest school system in the country, has banned student-facing generative artificial intelligence tools in classrooms through eighth grade for this school year, adopting one of the most aggressive AI policies in the nation. The moratorium follows intense pressure from parents and other advocates, who urged New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) to enact a two-year ban on AI in classrooms. It also comes amid a more widespread backlash to technology that has spurred screen-time limits in dozens of school systems, including Los Angeles Unified, the nation's second-largest public school district. Last year, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) banned cellphones from the state's public schools, following similar actions in dozens of other states. Mamdani's plan calls for a one-year pause that he said can be extended or amended, depending on how the first year goes. "This moratorium is a commitment to getting the future right," Mamdani said during a news conference Wednesday morning. "Kids need to learn to think for themselves, they need to work alongside their peers, they need to learn how to ask better questions, and they need to learn what it feels like to not know the answer." The new policy also seeks to tighten screen-time limits for the youngest learners in the school district. The city is recommending 30-minute screen-time limits for students in third to fifth grade and 45 minutes for sixth to eighth grades. Mamdani said the city will also disable AI components in more than 38 technology platforms that students have previously used. If AI capabilities cannot be removed from a program, the school district will stop using it. Meanwhile, for older students, the city will pilot five "rigorously vetted" educational AI programs in some high schools, and introduce two 45-minute AI literacy modules designed to teach teens about AI-related bias, risks and ethical considerations. Catch up quickly every weekday morning with a rundown of the 7 most important and interesting stories. Sign up for The 7 newsletter.

NYC AI ban isn't enough to protect students, advocates warn

Credit: New York Daily News / Contributor / Tribune News Service via Getty Images New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stood at a podium today (Sep. 2) and said the words "moratorium on generative AI" to a national audience. To those fighting to ban artificial intelligence in schools across the country, this moment was huge. Mamdani, speaking alongside NYC Chancellor Kamar Samuels, announced the new comprehensive, human-first AI policy for the nation's largest school district. "The tech industry wants us to believe that A.I.-powered early education is not only inevitable, but necessary," Mamdani said to press. "We do not see it that way." The new guidelines -- an update to a system-wide AI rulebook launched in March -- include a ban on chatbots and a one-year pause on the use of AI tools for students in pre-K through the eighth grade. The guidelines also bar individualized screen time for pre-K through second grade. The city says around 38 programs were flagged by the district as violating new policies following an audit of the system's current EdTech, which will either be removed entirely or have their AI features "disabled." New York City's new policies are some of the strictest AI guidelines in the state, potentially nationwide. Nationwide call for AI bans New York City schools are not the first to place limits on AI use among students, following a concerted, nationwide effort from parents, educators, and child safety advocates who have joined together to call for moratoriums on the technology and a hard line on tech usage in classrooms. One such group is the AI Moratorium (AIM) Coalition, made up of local and national parent organizations like environmental group Climate Families NYC, Class Size Matters, and the Parent Coalition for Student Privacy. The AIM Coalition has been on the front lines of the fight in NYC. In April and July, the group held public rallies urging the mayor's office to intervene in proposed AI adoption across the NYC school system. The group has gathered more than 6,000 signatures on a petition to the mayor's office calling for a two year AI moratorium across city schools, and penned a second letter to Mamdani on behalf of the group NYC Artists Against AI. The letter has been signed by more than 200 creatives, including actors Elliot Page and Mark Ruffalo and Broad City stars Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobsen. "We are excited about the fact that our youngest learners won't be exposed to artificial intelligence," said Dr. Kaliris Salas, member of the AIM Coalition and Racially Just Public Schools, during a press call following the announcement. "We are also concerned about our older learners." NYC's AI policy has glaring gaps, advocates say "There are a lot of holes in the policy, if we are being honest," said Liat Olenick, AIM Coalition and Climate Families NYC organizer. "But Kindergartners will not be talking to chatbots this fall, and that is huge progress. We made that change this year." First, advocates say, one year is not enough. "We are calling for an inclusive, democratic, deliberative process including parents, students, and educators to collectively develop an evidence-backed AI and EdTech policy for our schools," said Kyle DeAngelis of the Movement of Rank and File Educators. "One year is not long enough for that process to play out with the depth and care it requires." While the new policy bans access to general chatbots like Gemini and ChatGPT, it also includes carveouts for AI-powered tools that already exist in classroom management and education software, referred to as "boxed" curricula. NYC leaders have not provided information about access to Google Search, for example, which child safety advocates have recently flagged as a backdoor to genAI chatbot access. In addition, Leonie Haimson of the Parent Coalition for Student Privacy said the district is still allowing access to YouTube despite widespread backlash. "We are the largest school district in the country and can use our purchasing power to demand tools that turn off AI," said Dr. Kelly Clancy of Parents for AI Caution in Educational Spaces (PACES). "It's also a reason we need regulation of Big Tech as a precondition of exposing kids across the country to these products." The policy still allows unlimited staff use of generative AI, advocates flagged, as well as unclear mechanisms for evaluating AI products, contracts, and spending. Significantly, the guidelines do not cover high school classrooms. The city confirmed to AIM Coalition Steering Committee members on Sept. 1 that it's currently piloting AI programs in 180 high schools. Leadership did not say which schools were involved in programs. The coalition told reporters that they did not get clear answers on curriculum or formal opt-out policies for new AI technologies among high schoolers. NYC high school students joined the AIM Coalition press call to urge the district to expand its policies. "I'm upset that the high school students were left behind," said rising junior and organizer Ariana Ahmed Misha. "We need to consent. We need to have the choice to say no," said student and organizer Yelani Joseph. Joseph's school is one of the 180 testing AI tools in the classroom. Ahmed Misha and Joseph have both appealed directly to the chancellor to improve AI policies, including AI literacy programs, across NYC. In responses to questions posed by coalition members during the Sept. 1 meeting, NYC schools clarified that screen time limits are recommendations, not mandates, for grades 3-8. During a Sept. 2 press call, the city also backtracked on a promise to revoke students' access to Amira, a controversial AI-powered software that the district had said it would ban just a day prior. Now, the city plans to limit access to specific AI features in the app. David Monahan, campaign director of child safety nonprofit Fairplay, said in a statement that the policy had too many exceptions and failed to address racial bias and the environmental impacts of AI. "There are still a lot of open questions," said Edgar Alfonseca, member of the NYC DSA Tech Action Working Group. Alfonseca and many other child safety advocates are critical of the influence of Big Tech in classrooms, particularly the high dollar amount spent on deals between districts and AI companies. "We don't see this policy addressing the fundamental problem, which is that EdTech and Big Tech companies are able to reap tremendous profit from public school system dollars." Advocates feel they still need to remain vigilant despite the progress. "They are building the plane as it is flying," said Clancy.

New York City to ban student AI use in public schools until high school

Teachers and parents have warned against AI use in schools over concerns of 'cognitive surrender' New York City will ban students' use of artificial intelligence in public schools through eighth grade, typically age 13 or 14. The prohibition is scheduled to be announced Wednesday and will go into effect next week. The change is part of a sweeping overhaul of the use of technology in the US' largest school district, which enrolls roughly 900,000 students a year. In another policy shift, classrooms will keep students off laptops or tablets through the third grade, age nine or 10. The city's public school technology policies are closely watched by the rest of the United States. Teachers and parents have warned against the use of AI instructional software in schools over concerns about harming children's mental health and cognitive development, in particular an abdication of reasoning to software, a phenomenon researchers have dubbed "cognitive surrender", as well as environmental damage. AI use will only be allowed in high school, which begins in the ninth grade in the US school system. Even then, it will be limited to specific uses, such as learning about the technology itself. AI "companion chatbots" offering psychological support will also be banned. The rules allow teachers to use AI for tasks including preparing lessons or writing messages, but they are forbidden from asking AI to grade assignments. The city's education department recommends limiting screen time to 45 minutes in class for middle schoolers - sixth through eighth grade - and 30 minutes for elementary school students. But the question remains of how to monitor AI use, since it often takes place outside the school environment. The new rules follow an initial framework published in March, which used a traffic light system to determine which tasks AI would be used for. In 2023, the school system forbade students' use of ChatGPT, though the ban was reversed less than a year later. The 2026 framework, which allowed students to use AI for research, exploration and creative projects, sparked fury among many parents and teachers who considered it too lenient. In response, the city's schools chancellor Kamar Samuels said that leaders had "missed the mark" in their communications, adding his office would carefully review parents' feedback for incorporation into future rules. The city had long planned to follow the March framework with a more comprehensive "guidebook" to take feedback into account, the education department has said. The department will set up a taskforce made up of teachers, elected officials, experts and union representatives. The taskforce is to produce a report in April, intended to serve as the basis for New York's AI-in-schools policy.

Mamdani expected to announce AI ban in NYC schools for young students

When New York City schools resume next week, a new restriction on the use of artificial intelligence will reportedly be in place for students and teachers. The New York Times reports that a policy scheduled to be announced Wednesday would put an age restriction on students who get to use AI, in addition to individual screen time. The announcement is expected to be made by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels later this morning. Under the plan, New York City public schools would impose a one-year pause on students using AI until they get to high school -- that accounts for nearly 600,000 young leaners. The mandate would also place restrictions on the use of devices like laptops and tablets, with students from preschool through 2nd grade not being allowed to use them in class. Students in 3rd grade to 8th grade will reportedly have time limits on using laptops. These new rules on technology in the classroom come as the mayor has been quoted as pushing back on the use of AI in schools, saying despite the push from the tech industry, AI-powered early education is not inevitable. Leaders in the Department of Education have reportedly spent months putting together a guidebook on AI in the classroom that includes feedback from lawmakers, tech companies and parents. The schools chancellor has previously said the guardrails would protect the "human connection, curiosity and creativity that help children grow." Teachers in the city, however, will not have the same restrictions. Under the new policy, they will still be able to use artificial intelligence for things like creating lesson plans but they won't be allowed to use the tool for grading or crisis management. The AI policies in New York City schools are being seen as some of the most restrictive on technology in the classroom nationwide.

NYC officials to ban AI in the classroom until high school, sources say

Alexa Herrera is a digital producer with the CBS News New York web team. She previously worked with WUFT and WTSP in Florida as a digital producer. She's a Long Island native. Artificial intelligence will be banned in New York City public schools until students reach high school, according to sources. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels are expected to make the announcement Wednesday morning, sources confirmed to CBS News New York's Marcia Kramer. Two-thirds of all students won't be able to use AI until high school. There will also be limits on how much time all students will be able to spend on screens, sources said. Educators will also face restrictions, as teachers will not be able to use AI to grade assignments. Many parents voiced their concerns about the use of AI in schools in May when the Department of Education was finalizing its plan to develop a formal AI policy. Some parents feared the damage was already done, while others were concerned about the tools that many of them don't yet understand. The announcement comes just days before the start of the new school year for the city on Sept. 10. CBS News New York will be streaming the announcement at 10:30 a.m. It can be viewed in the live player on this page. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Mamdani Imposes One-Year Ban on AI for Most NYC Students

NEW YORK, Sept 2 (Reuters) - New ⁠York ⁠City officials announced a ⁠one-year moratorium on students using artificial intelligence in public elementary and middle schools, the latest step by public officials to set guidelines around new technology in the classroom. The move by ⁠the nation's ⁠largest school district is the most restrictive to date across the U.S., though other districts, including Los Angeles, have said they are reviewing AI policies. Mayor Zohran Mamdani told reporters on Wednesday that schools would halt the current use of ⁠about 40 ⁠educational tools in New ⁠York City classrooms. "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," Mamdani said at a press conference. Major AI developers ⁠Google, Anthropic and Microsoft did not immediately reply to requests for ⁠comment. The policy will affect about 600,000 public school students through eighth grade, while high school students will be allowed to use AI in some cases. Teachers will be permitted to use AI for lesson planning and tasks such as scheduling, the city said in a statement. New York City public schools previously ⁠imposed a temporary ban on ChatGPT soon after its rollout in 2022. The restriction was later lifted and replaced by a custom AI-powered teaching assistant, according to Microsoft, part-owner of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI. (Reporting by Maria Tsvetkova; editing by David Gaffen)

NYC Schools Take Drastic Steps on AI

The city's public school system is set to roll out an expansive new policy on artificial intelligence ahead of the start of the 2026-2027 school year next week, instituting a ban on use of the technology among students below ninth grade. The New York Daily News reports that New York City Public Schools students from 2-K programs up through eighth grade will be barred from utilizing AI-based software programs, chatbots or tutors as part of their daily learning. In addition, students from preschool to second graders won't be allowed to have individual devices under the new policy. Per the Daily News, city schools will also enforce limits on screen time including capping third graders up to fifth graders to between 30 minutes a day while older middle school students could have up to 45 minutes. Once in high school, students will have an opportunity to utilize AI, but still in a limited fashion. There are some exceptions to the new policy. Chalkbeat reports that there will be accommodations for students with disabilities and those newly learning English. Assessment tests that are administered on computers will be factored in as well. Per the outlet, while educators can use some pre-approved AI tools for certain administrative tasks like lesson planning, drafting communications and translation, teachers will be barred from using the technology in the context of grading, developing special education lesson plans, monitoring behavior, or counseling. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels are set to officially announce the policy's implementation at a Tuesday morning press conference in Brooklyn. The sweeping new policy, which is expected to affect nearly 600,000 students in the nation's largest public school system, might still fall short for some advocates. Parent groups as well as some politicians have pushed for a full moratorium on AI in schools with some calling for a two-year ban on the technology.

NYC Public Schools To Unveil Sweeping Rules On Screen Time, Including Bans On AI: Reports

NYC Public Schools To Unveil Sweeping Rules On Screen Time, Including Bans On AI: Reports New York City will reportedly bar its youngest public school students from using artificial intelligence under new rules being rolled out on screen time and digital devices in the nation's largest school system. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels are expected to announce the sweeping policy changes on Wednesday, according to local news outlets. The use of AI -- including chatbots, AI tutors and instructional programs -- would be prohibited to all students until they reach high school. The older students would be permitted its use under "restricted" access, WABC reported. There will also be caps on screen time, with middle schoolers permitted no more than 45 minutes a day, according to The New York Times. A spokesperson for the school system did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mamdani announces AI ban in NYC schools this year -- but there are some exemptions

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a ban on artificial intelligence in Big Apple schools for the upcoming school year -- with Hizzoner boasting the prohibition is the "broadest" in the country. The mayor said a full moratorium on the use of generative AI would be in effect for kids in the new 2-year-old "2K" childcare program up through eighth grade, but there would be an exemption for some pilot programs open for high schoolers. The restriction will affect 600,000 children as classes start next week while 50,000 high school students will have access to five limited pilot programs with established screentime maximums. "It does not matter how profitable a product is if it doesn't help our students learn and grow," Mamdani railed at Brooklyn STEAM Center, a technology and manufacturing focused vocational school. Administration officials noted that certain exceptions to the ban would be made for students with disabilities, English as a Second Language students and children in career readiness programs like computer science. Members of the pilot program would still be supervised by teachers across the five programs and have varying capped screentimes: Quill for English, Edia for Math, Brisk Teaching, Playlab and Intel's AI-Ready Schools. High School students will also be required to complete 45 minute long AI literacy training modules twice-a-year, warning about overreliance on the emerging technology. "This is to ensure that students understand the risk and misinformation, overreliance on what it means to protect their ability to think critically without a tool doing it for them," Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels said. Samuels announced that students through second grade will not have lessons requiring electronic devices while recommending screen caps of 30 minutes per week for grades three through five and 45 minutes for grades six through eight. The mayor said that "close to 40" current Department of Education services will have their AI functionality turned off as part of the ban. Companies which cannot disable their AI features would have their products completely removed from Big Apple schools. Gov. Kathy Hochul called the new restrictions a "bold move" during at an unrelated press conference on Long Island. Hochul went on to tout a statewide cellphone ban as an effort that has improved schooling and students' mental health. The Empire State is now exploring AI bans similar to the city's but made clear discussions are still in the early stages. State Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn) introduced legislation last month that would require offering students in pre-k to fifth grade screen-free learning while students from sixth grade through 12th grade would have access through a shared computer cart model. The bill would allow high school students individual device access if they have permission from their parents. That legislation would also create a "right to analog learning," which would allow parents to opt-out of assignment-based screentime when a reasonable alternative is available. AI would be removed school-issued laptops. "To ensure learning truly comes first, we need comprehensive, statewide regulations that put thoughtful guardrails around the use of tech in schools," Gounardes said in a statement, commending the mayor's "crucial" first step. A new group including students, educators, elected officials and experts dubbed the Technology in Schools Coalition will meet throughout the year before issuing a report recommending levels of AI use in future years. Additional reporting by Brandon Cruz

Mamdani announces AI ban for young students in NYC schools

STORY: :: Mamdani announces a ban on AI use in NYC classrooms through eighth grade :: New York / September 2, 2026 :: Mayor Zohran Mamdani, (D) New York "AI has gone from the pages of a sci-fi novel into something present in nearly every aspect of our lives." // "Today, I am proud to announce New York City's first ever comprehensive AI policy for our public schools, City Hall's answer to those questions. It is the most comprehensive of its kind anywhere in the country, and it begins with a simple principle. Children need their teachers and human connection in order to learn and in order to grow." // "So beginning this school year, we will implement a one-year moratorium on generative AI for students in 2-K through 8th grade. I want to thank (New York) Governor Hochul for helping pave the way with her efforts to ban cell phones and social media platforms in our schools. This moratorium is a commitment to getting the future right. A six-year-old child is too young to slice an onion, to fry an egg, or to use a stove safely. But once that child is 16, that knowledge becomes something they are mature enough to learn. That same principle applies to AI." For high schools, the city will pilot five vetted AI education programs under teacher supervision, while making AI literacy coursework mandatory for all high schoolers, NYC Public Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels said. Mamdani said the one-year policy would be closely monitored and evaluated before any decisions on renewal or expansion, adding that the city aims to prioritize tools proven to be educationally beneficial over those that are merely profitable for AI companies.