The discussion around using humanoid robots in classrooms has intensified following recent events involving a Figure 03 Humanoid robot at an AI Education Summit, attended by First Lady Melania Trump on Apr. 3. The American-made robot, developed by Figure AI, greeted attendees autonomously and demonstrated the potential for artificial intelligence to play a role in education.
Supporters say that AI-powered instructors could offer personalized education tailored to each child’s learning speed and emotional state. “Very soon artificial intelligence will move from our mobile phones to humanoids that deliver utility,” said the First Lady at the summit, suggesting these robots could provide practical support for teachers by handling administrative tasks and allowing educators to focus more on teaching.
However, not everyone is convinced this technological shift is positive. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, criticized the idea during a discussion on AI. “What she did yesterday was every parent’s nightmare,” Weingarten said. She added: “This is exactly what Big Tech wants to create: a sense of a society that is being led by and taught by robots, displacing every bit of all of who we are, starting with education.”
Some parents express concerns about current educational practices rather than robotic instruction itself. Incidents such as students being addressed with different names or pronouns without parental consent and cases where students were left unsupervised during school protests have raised questions about school policies and teacher conduct.
Safety concerns regarding robotics remain relevant as well; last November, Figure AI faced a lawsuit from its former head of product safety who claimed he was fired after warning about the physical risks posed by powerful robots.
As debate continues over technology’s place in schools versus traditional human-led classrooms, observers note that cost may also influence decisions—robots like those produced by Figure AI reportedly cost around $25,000 each.
