Welcome to the forefront of conversational AI as we explore the fascinating world of AI chatbots in our dedicated blog series. Discover the latest advancements, applications, and strategies that propel the evolution of chatbot technology. From enhancing customer interactions to streamlining business processes, these articles delve into the innovative ways artificial intelligence is shaping the landscape of automated conversational agents. Whether you’re a business owner, developer, or simply intrigued by the future of interactive technology, join us on this journey to unravel the transformative power and endless possibilities of AI chatbots.
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In two different New York City apartments, two teenagers are doing homework with the help of an AI chatbot. One is helped by a parent who uses AI at work. The other is figuring it out alone. Neither attends a school that teaches how to use the technology.
My wife and I have watched our kids grow up alongside the internet, smartphones, social media, and now generative AI. We know the anxiety that new technology can cause, and understand why a majority of the City Council is urging public schools to implement a two-year moratorium on AI.
We don’t yet understand the long-term impact on learning and cognitive development; we’ve got vendors trying to sell AI to schools before we know what does and doesn’t work. The privacy risks are real.
But a moratorium isn’t the answer. You can keep AI tools out of the classroom, but you can’t ban them from the world.
A moratorium doesn’t protect students; it removes the one place someone could have taught them, and it stops teachers from using AI to spend less time on paperwork and more time with students.
When it comes to AI in schools, we don’t have to choose between all or nothing.
In 2023, city schools banned ChatGPT, then reversed course four months later. Let’s not repeat that mistake.
This is especially urgent for high schoolers, entering the same college and job market as peers across the country whose schools have more thoughtful approaches to AI. Our students are already behind. Of the more than 74,000 students who entered ninth grade in 2011, just over a quarter had earned a bachelor’s degree within six years. NYC Schools estimates that only 11% of those students were earning a living wage within one year of entering the workforce.
In New York City, 86% of business leaders say they will prioritize hiring workers with AI skills, according to a 2026 KPMG survey. At the same time, more than half are cutting the entry-level roles where they might have learned AI on the job. While risks differ for elementary students, the risk of not learning to use AI now is profound.
So what does this look like?
First, some of the clearest benefits don’t involve a student interacting with a chatbot. Consider live translation for families who don’t speak English at home. Or feedback on student writing in minutes, so a teacher can spend more time coaching how to revise.
Second, support promising pilots and invest in independent research conducted by people with no product to sell. And ensure they are aligned with quality instructional materials . A panel of parents, researchers, and educators can vet those pilots and hold the companies building them accountable. The most promising pilots use AI in careful doses. This is not about replacing teachers. It is about giving teachers better tools and giving every student a chance to learn to use them.
Finally, teach responsible AI use. Students need to distinguish between facts and hallucinations, between fake AI slop and the real world. They need to learn the difference between using AI to help them think better and using it to do their thinking for them. Uncommon Schools already runs a course built on that distinction: call it an AI driver’s license.
There are so many exciting, teacher-driven innovations happening in our public schools. It would be a tragedy to see them derailed just when many are beginning to show promise.
New York’s schools have a rich tradition of doing hard things. Responsibly and thoughtfully integrating AI should be on that list.
Buery is CEO of Robin Hood.
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