New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani Announces One-Year AI Moratorium for Students Through 8th Grade

New York City: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced a one-year moratorium on student-facing generative artificial intelligence in public schools.

The policy will apply to students from 2-K through eighth grade during the 2026-27 school year. City officials say the move will affect nearly 600,000 public school students.

Mamdani said children need teachers and human interaction to learn and develop essential skills. He stressed the importance of students working with classmates and solving difficult problems independently.

The mayor also challenged the argument that AI is necessary for younger students. He said he has not seen convincing independent research showing clear benefits from generative AI for elementary and middle school education.

AI Moratorium Covers Student-Facing Tools

The new policy covers software that uses student-facing generative AI. Companion chatbots will also be prohibited across New York City public schools.

The city said the moratorium is the most expansive student-facing AI policy of its kind in the United States. It will be reviewed during the 2026-27 academic year.

A Technology in Schools Coalition will assess the policy throughout the year. The group will include students, educators, parents, experts and other stakeholders.

Its findings will help shape recommendations for future school years.

High School Students Will Have Limited AI Access

The policy does not impose the same restrictions on high school students.

New York City plans to introduce limited AI pilots in selected high school classrooms. Five vetted AI programs will be used under direct teacher supervision.

High school students will also receive AI literacy instruction twice a year. The lessons will cover AI risks, bias, ethics and its potential impact on careers.

Teachers Can Continue Using AI

Teachers will still be allowed to use AI for instructional planning and certain operational tasks.

However, the tools must comply with New York City Public Schools’ safety standards.

The policy also includes exceptions for assistive technology. Multilingual learners and students in career-readiness programs can receive appropriate exceptions.

NYC Also Introduces Screen-Time Recommendations

Alongside the AI moratorium, city officials announced new classroom screen-time recommendations.

Students in grades 3 through 5 are recommended to have no more than 30 minutes of screen time per day. For grades 6 through 8, the recommendation rises to 45 minutes daily.

The policy also restricts one-to-one device use for younger students.

Mamdani said the goal is not to reject technology altogether. Instead, officials want technology to support learning without replacing teachers, classmates or independent thinking.

The mayor said the one-year period will allow the city to study how AI affects students before making longer-term decisions.

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