Mamdani Slams Tech Industry with AI Moratorium for NYC Elementary and Middle Schools

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced a one-year ban on AI use in public school classrooms through eighth grade. The moratorium, which will take effect immediately, applies to classrooms starting with care and learning for 2-year-olds and extends to the final year of middle school.

The ban is part of a broader effort to limit the role of AI in early education. Mamdani argues that children 'need their teachers and human connection in order to learn and in order to grow' in the classroom, and that AI use should be phased out until educators are better prepared to manage it.

The tech industry has been promoting the use of AI in K-12 classrooms, but a study by IBM found that 45% of elementary school teachers, 76% of middle school teachers, and 73% of high schoolers reported using AI in their classroom at least weekly. However, only 2 in 10 K-12 educators said they have received 'extensive' AI literacy training.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul praised Mamdani for the moratorium, saying it is a step forward in supporting New York's kids.