A pilot program to introduce the AI humanoid robot "Sally" as a learning assistant in high school classrooms in the Salamanca City Central School District in New York State has been suspended after spending $58,000 (about 85 million won) on the project, following strong opposition from parents and teachers. The robot, designed based on student council suggestions, was scheduled to assist students with math and science learning. The school district stated Sally was not meant to replace teachers but to serve as an educational tool. Critics argued the robot could undermine human bonds, raised concerns about collection of students’ voice and facial data, and opposed the unchecked expansion of technology. The controversy intensified after it became known that a sister company of Sally’s manufacturer, Realbotics, produces AI-based robots for adults marketed as “the world’s most advanced sex robots.” The New York State teachers union stated, “There is no reason for a robot from a company associated with adult products to be in the classroom.” New York State Commissioner of Education Betty A. Rosa sent a letter to the Salamanca superintendent regarding the matter.