NEW YORK CITY (WABC) — Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other city officials announced a sweeping new policy Wednesday that imposes a one-year ban on student use of generative artificial intelligence in New York City public schools from 2-K through eighth grade, while limiting screen time for younger students and launching AI literacy lessons for high school students. The moratorium, which will take effect during the 2026-27 school year, will affect nearly 600,000 students, about two-thirds of the city’s public school enrollment. Phil Taitt has the details from Fort Greene, Brooklyn. “This moratorium is a commitment to get the future right,” Mamdani said. “We will adopt new technology, but only when it serves our students.” City officials said student-oriented AI tools and companion chatbots will be banned for younger grades as a coalition of educators, parents, experts and elected officials studies the impact of the technology and recommends next steps. You will be allowed to use AI for lesson planning and administrative work that meets city safety standards. The policy also introduces new screen time guidelines, including restrictions on individual device use for younger students and recommended daily limits of 30 minutes for grades 3 to 5 and 45 minutes for grades 6 to 8. Mayor Mamdani called the measure necessary to protect “human connection” in classrooms, arguing that children should develop social and problem-solving skills alongside teachers and peers rather than relying on AI tools. School leaders have been waiting for guidance for months. In July, directors were ordered to suspend software purchases while the administration finalized its policy. Previous guidelines released in March did not include grade-based AI restrictions or limits on digital devices. The crackdown comes amid growing concerns from parents, educators and lawmakers about the impact of artificial intelligence and screen-based learning on children. Parent advocacy groups have pushed for a moratorium on AI in schools, while more than half of the City Council signed a letter urging the City Council and the Department of Education to halt expanded use of AI in classrooms. UFT President Michael Mulgrew said parents’ concerns about artificial intelligence helped fuel calls for stronger safety measures. Close.Mulgrew called AI “a very dangerous thing” and said schools should avoid using new products until they have been properly vetted. He also noted that teachers and principals lacked clear guidance on the policy just weeks before the start of the school year. Supporters of the restrictions argue that many AI-powered educational programs offer questionable academic value and may encourage students to rely on technology rather than critical thinking. Some educational apps have been criticized for resembling video games and making it easy for students to bypass traditional learning. The concerns mirror those that drove New York City’s bell-to-bell cellphone ban, which went into effect at the beginning of the last school year as educators and parents sought to reduce distractions and improve student engagement. “The tech industry wants us to believe that AI-powered early education is not only inevitable, but necessary. We don’t see it that way,” Mamdani said in a statement before the conference. announcement.———-* Get eyewitness news * More New York City news * Send us a news tip * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts * Download our connected TV app Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness NewsDo you have a breaking news tip or story idea we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If you attach a video or photo, the terms of use apply. Copyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All rights reserved.
