New York City Restricts Generative AI Use for Nearly 600,000 Students
Tuesday, 8 September 2026, 10:17
On September 2, 2026, Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels and Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced new limits on screen time and AI use for students in New York City public schools. Erik Pendzich/
A sweeping school policy will reshape how children encounter chatbots, while teachers and parents debate whether the restrictions can work beyond the classroom.
New York City is limiting the use of generative artificial intelligence by students from the 2-K program through eighth grade for one school year. The new rules will affect nearly 600,000 children – approximately two-thirds of the students in the largest school district in the United States.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Kamar Samuels, head of the city’s public school system, announced the decision. Under the new policy, the district will discontinue or disable AI functions in more than 38 previously approved educational programs if they fail to meet safety and oversight requirements.
What rules are being introduced in schools
A new Coalition on Technology in Schools will monitor compliance with the moratorium. It will include teachers, parents, students, and other members of the education community. The coalition will analyze the effects of the restrictions and prepare recommendations for subsequent school years.
Zohran Mamdani said the new policy is intended to help preserve students’ critical thinking and the importance of direct interaction between students and teachers.
The technology industry wants to convince us that artificial intelligence in elementary education is not only inevitable but necessary. We do not agree.
What education representatives are saying
Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, supported the limits on screen time and the exceptions for students with special needs. At the same time, he questioned whether educators would have a clear understanding of which digital products meet safety requirements and are approved for use.
Kamar Samuels acknowledged that schools cannot completely prevent students from using AI at home, particularly while doing homework. He urged parents to monitor their children’s use of such technologies and said the new rules should strengthen efforts to counter the external use of AI.
In 2023, the New York City Department of Education had already blocked ChatGPT on school devices and educational networks, but it lifted the restriction several months later. In 2025, New York State also banned students from using personal phones during the school day.
Other school districts are also introducing restrictions related to generative artificial intelligence. The Los Angeles Unified School District tightened its screen-use rules and limited students’ access to generative AI platforms while their safety measures were being reviewed.
- New York City schools will suspend generative AI access for students through eighth grade for one year, while limiting approved tools for older students.
- Norway will restrict generative AI use in schools from late August, banning it for primary pupils and imposing supervised limits for older students to protect core skills.
