Res. No. 658
Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.10133/A.9190, which prohibits the use of most artificial intelligence in classrooms prior to high school
By Council Members Wong and Avilés
Whereas, Artificial intelligence (“AI”) is the science and engineering of intelligent machines, and is comprised of related and often-connected technologies that work together to supply “human-like” responses and reasoning; and
Whereas, Also referred to as “cognitive technologies,” AI comprises, among other things, of the technologies of deep learning, natural language processing, machine vision, speech recognition and expert systems; and
Whereas, In November 2022, OpenAI publicly launched its large language model, ChatGPT, and set records as the fastest growing technology product in history, attracting over 1 million users within 5 days; and
Whereas, Other companies have since released AI chatbots, including Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Meta AI, Anthropic’s Claude, and xAI’s Grok, all launching to the public in the months and years following the introduction of ChatGPT; and
Whereas, These companies have publicly acknowledged that their AI tools come with great possibilities and great risks; and
Whereas, Several studies have shown that young people and adolescents are often early adopters of new technology, and can often bear the brunt of the risk associated with these new technologies; and
Whereas, Concerns over student use of AI for school-related activities have emerged in recent years with fears centering around cognitive offloading, threats to emotional growth, academic dishonesty, data privacy, and a widening digital divide; and
Whereas, As AI use in schools is a relatively new research area, the impact of AI use on student learning remains largely unsettled amongst experts; and
Whereas, However, a 2026 national report that incorporated interviews, focus groups, and consultations with over 500 students, teachers, parents, education leaders and technologists on top of an examination of over 400 studies evaluating the risks and benefits of using AI in children’s education, found that at this point in its trajectory, the risks of utilizing generative AI in children’s education overshadow its benefits; and
Whereas, Studies indicate that technology contributes most effectively to educational improvement when embedded within carefully designed and implemented strategies: and
Whereas, Researchers report that AI’s rapid evolution and the absence of extensive precedents make establishing stable frames of reference or accurate predictions of benefits or harms to students difficult; and
Whereas, A 2026 survey published by RAND found that roughly 71% of participating students reported using at least one AI tool for school-related activity, but only 45% of principals reported school or district policies on the use of AI; and
Whereas, The New York City (“NYC”) Department of Education (“DOE”) released preliminary guidelines for AI use in public schools on March 24, 2026, but has since faced strong opposition from parents and education advocacy groups for not having more stringent rules on AI use; and
Whereas, In May 2026, Chancellor Kamar Samuels acknowledged that the AI preliminary guidelines “missed the mark,” and he pledged to a more aggressive approach to restricting the use of AI for the youngest students in the final version of the AI guidelines, but this new approach has delayed the release of NYC DOE’s final guidelines, leaving schools without direction for addressing AI related questions; and
Whereas, Without comprehensive guidance from NYC DOE, a growing number of educators and parents are calling for a full moratorium on AI use in schools; and
Whereas, With the aim of protecting students from the risks of unproven technology, State Senator Robert Jackson introduced S.10133 in the New York State Senate, and Assembly Member Robert Carroll introduced companion bill, A.9190, in the New State Assembly, to prohibit the use of AI in classrooms prior to high school; and
Whereas, As the research shows, new technologies, like AI, should not be introduced into the classroom without proper vetting and clear evidence as to its impact on student learning achievement and overall intellectual and socio-emotional growth; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.10133/A.9190, which prohibits the use of most artificial intelligence in classrooms prior to high school.
KS
LS 23922
08/20/2026 11:32 AM