A charter school network in San Diego is facing criticism after spending $500,000 on two ChatGPT-powered humanoid robots designed to assist teachers in the classroom.
Altus Schools purchased two Ameca robots, six-foot-two humanoids developed by Engineered Arts with lifelike silicone faces capable of displaying human-like expressions.
The robots have been programmed with four different roles—a teacher, wellness coach, college adviser, and translator—and students are always supervised while interacting with them.
Education experts remain skeptical about their value.
According to the New York Post, Wayne Holmes said there is “no independent evidence at scale” showing that AI-powered classroom robots are safe or effective learning tools.
Another researcher was even more critical, describing the humanoid robot as “a show” and “a spectacle,” arguing that it distracts students and cannot match the judgment, flexibility, or understanding of a human teacher.
Holmes also said comparing Ameca to a human educator was wildly unrealistic, while critics argued the $500,000 could have been better spent hiring teachers, classroom aides, or mental health staff.
In one demonstration, a robot role-playing as Nikola Tesla delivered a lesson that was frequently interrupted and difficult for students to follow. The school's dean of academic studies later acknowledged the presentation was "clunky."
The debate comes as countries adopt different approaches to AI in education. Norway recently restricted AI tools in elementary schools, citing concerns over declining academic performance and the importance of strengthening core learning skills.