AI Teachers, in the USA it's already a reality: a sex doll company produces the robot

It was only a matter of time before AI approached teaching, not just learning, but also instruction. Thus, a school class in New York state has introduced Sally, a humanoid robot that will not replace teachers, but for now will support educational activities. Starting next school year, students at the Salamanca City Central School District will be able to interact with the humanoid robot that will regularly assist teachers.

As reported by New York Focus, the school district, located in the Seneca Nation reservation, will be among the first in the United States to adopt this technology. Sally belongs to the M-Series range developed by Realbotix and integrates Optio, an AI-based educational assistance platform that students can also use remotely to continue learning activities outside school hours.

Sally boasts silicone skin, a human-like structure, the ability to hold natural conversations, dynamic facial expressions, and real-time interactions. The robot will remain installed in a fixed position and will not move around the classroom, although it can move its upper body to make dialogues with students more natural.

One of the aspects that Realbotix emphasizes relates to data security and content control. The system operates through a closed network, without a direct Internet connection, and does not access the personally identifiable information of students. To use the robot, it is necessary to enter one's school identification code, which retrieves exclusively personalized educational information. The company also states that the platform incorporates dedicated filters to limit inappropriate responses, incorrect or distorted content, and that all activities remain under the supervision of the school district.

The initiative will initially concern high school students enrolled in artificial intelligence and robotics courses of the Woz ED STEM Pathway program, designed to prepare students for careers related to STEM disciplines and emerging technologies. The district's goal is to subsequently expand access to about 500 students during the fall semester.

The project has, as one might expect, immediately sparked controversy within the community. What is most discussed is the position of Realbotix: in 2024 the company acquired Simulacra Corporation, the owner of the RealDoll brand, known for producing hyper-realistic sex dolls. However, the company clarified that the education division operates independently and does not share personnel, technology, or facilities with the division engaged in making RealDolls.

As a robotics researcher, learning scientist, and author who has followed Realbotix for years, I'm compelled to do a Bluesky thread on this whole pivot that Realbotix is now trying, turning from humanoid sex robots to classroom "education" robots. Buckle up. nysfocus.com/2026/07/14/n... 🧵
— Julie Carpenter, PhD (@jgcarpenter.com)
16 July 2026, 01:08 AM

The major criticisms, however, naturally concern privacy, the management of student data, and the presence of cameras and microphones in classrooms attended by minors. Some researchers also point out that many students in the Seneca reservation come from economically disadvantaged families, a circumstance that could favor the experimentation of new technologies in particularly sensitive contexts.

The school district and Realbotix reiterate that Sally will not replace teachers, but will only serve as an educational assistant. Nonetheless, the debate remains open on the role that artificial intelligence could assume within the educational system and the potential effects of an increasingly frequent interaction between students and humanoid robots. The price of each unit is $57,590, a reduced amount compared to the official list price of $95,000.