Kathmandu— New York City has announced a one-year moratorium on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in classrooms for elementary and middle school students, affecting more than 600,000 pupils. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the ban aims to protect children's cognitive development by limiting their exposure to AI technology during formative years. The policy will end the use of 40 different educational tools but allows teachers to continue using AI for lesson planning.

Mayor’s Rationale

Mayor Zohran Mamdani emphasized the importance of human connection in education during a news conference. "Children need teachers and human connection in order to learn and grow," he said, adding that AI-powered early education is not necessary for student development.

Pilot Program and Restrictions

The city will spend the next year studying how the ban impacts students. A pilot program will test limited use of certain AI tools in high schools, including Edia for math and Quill for English language arts courses. The policy also implements staggered screen-time restrictions, limiting daily usage to less than 45 minutes through eighth grade.

Expert Opinions

"NYC public schools banning AI in elementary and middle schools sends an important message because it is the largest school district in the US," said Margeret Murry, associate professor of communication at the University of Michigan. However, she noted that the effectiveness of the ban remains uncertain due to a lack of details on enforcement mechanisms.

Impact and Future

The moratorium comes amid growing concerns about AI's impact on cognitive development among students. A comprehensive review by the Brookings Institution found that while careful implementation can enrich learning outcomes, the negatives often outweigh the positives. The city will also launch two yearly AI literacy courses to help students understand technology and its ethical implications.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.