“Humanoid robots arrive in U.S. schools as teacher assistants”

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Schools in the United States will incorporate humanoid robots into classrooms through a pilot program that seeks to improve student engagement and facilitate learning assisted by artificial intelligence.

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The company Realbotix has introduced its AI-powered teaching assistant, Optio, along with the humanoid robot M-Series, in the Salamanca City Central school district.

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The project initially focuses on supporting classroom activities and interactive learning. According to the company, the initiative plans to expand to reach about 500 students at the secondary level in the fall of 2026.

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The technological deployment responds to a growing trend of integrating artificial intelligence into American education, combining virtual tutoring software with the physical presence of humanoid robots in academic environments.

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Realbotix launched its Optio assistant and the M-Series robot in a New York school district.

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Optio: home assistant and tutor

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Optio functions as an AI-powered teaching assistant and personalized tutor outside of school hours, allowing students to interact with digital avatars trained on content approved by the school district. The system offers conceptual reinforcement, individualized tutoring, homework help in multiple languages, and ongoing academic support.

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According to Realbotix, the platform includes security controls specific to the educational environment, district oversight, and mechanisms to prevent inappropriate responses.

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The design also contemplates attention to neurodiverse students, through personalized learning paths and continuous access to adapted educational resources.

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Integration with robotics and STEM courses

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The pilot will first be implemented with students enrolled in AI and robotics courses from Woz ED, reflecting Salamanca’s status as a STEM educational district. The program, which could be extended to five hundred students, seeks to turn interaction with robots into an everyday experience, beyond laboratories and experimental demonstrations.

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Optio offers personalized tutoring, homework support, and academic reinforcement 24 hours a day.

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Andrew Kiguel, CEO of Realbotix, stated: “We are moving beyond lab demonstrations to bring embodied AI directly into classrooms, supporting teachers and proving that advanced robotics can thrive in real educational environments”.

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Robots with realistic human interaction

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The M-Series robot is designed for direct, face-to-face contact with students. It combines natural language processing, expressive facial movements, and real-time conversational skills. It can answer questions, participate in debates, and deliver educational content through spoken dialogue, allowing students to interact with embodied artificial intelligence rather than just through traditional screens.

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The incorporation of facial expressions and reactive dialogue seeks to create a more immersive and engaging experience for students. Furthermore, the robot will be used in conjunction with Woz ED courses, allowing students to explore how advanced AI systems perceive, process, and respond to human interaction. Students will be able to explore advanced concepts of artificial intelligence and robotics through direct contact with the robots. (Referential image/Reuters)

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The initiative aims not only to improve classroom dynamics, but also to help students understand emerging technologies that are expected to have a growing impact on various sectors. The program acts as a practical demonstration of embodied artificial intelligence, showing how humanoid robots can collaborate in educational environments and anticipating future applications in diverse areas of learning.

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