A charter school network in San Diego, Altus Schools, has invested $500,000 in two Ameca humanoid robots that use ChatGPT to interact with students through natural conversations and lifelike facial expressions. The robots are designed to support teachers by serving as classroom assistants, wellness coaches, college planners and translators rather than replacing human educators. School leaders say the pilot will help them understand whether "physical AI" can improve student engagement, personalise learning and prepare young people for a future in which artificial intelligence is expected to play an increasingly important role. The robots, developed by UK robotics company Engineered Arts, stand approximately 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 metres) tall and feature a realistic grey silicone face capable of smiling, blinking, raising its eyebrows and displaying a range of emotions. Cameras allow it to maintain eye contact during conversations, while microphones and speakers enable natural voice interactions. The initiative has attracted global attention while also raising questions about cost, effectiveness and ethics.