“Public schools in New York City prohibit students under eighth grade from using generative AI”
New York City announced a ban on the use of generative AI tools in public schools for students in grades 8 and below starting from the 2026-2027 school year.
On September 3, 2026, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced new policies prohibiting students in eighth grade and below from using generative artificial intelligence tools. These restrictions will take effect in the 2026-2027 school year, affecting approximately 600,000 students in the city (two-thirds of public school students). To complement these AI restrictions, New York City also set limits on daily screen time for younger students: 30 minutes for grades 3-5 and 45 minutes for grades 6-8. One-on-one use of electronic devices is also prohibited. Additionally, the policy requires the offering of AI literacy courses for high school students. Mayor Mamdani said that this one-year measure aims to ensure that new technologies serve students and reflect a commitment to responsibility for the future.
New York City announced a ban on the use of generative AI tools in public schools for students in grades 8 and below starting from the 2026-2027 school year.
Coverage · reports per dayLANGUAGE SPLIT
Coverage mixSOURCE MIX
Chinese media 1English media 1
Entity relations
Integrated timelineUNIFIED TIMELINE
2026-09-03
The mayor announced the implementation of new AI restrictions.
Zohran Mamdani announced a ban on the use of generative AI by students in grades 8 and below, affecting approximately 600,000 students; at the same time, screen time limits for younger grades were set at 30 minutes and 45 minutes respectively.
2026-09-07
The media reported on New York City’s AI ban.
The Decoder reported that public schools in New York City were banned from using AI tools, covering grades 8 and below.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a ban on the use of generative AI by students in public schools below grade 8. This ban will take effect in the 2026-2027 school year, affecting nearly 600,000 students, accounting for two-thirds of the total number of students in the city’s public schools. The new policy also limits screen time for younger students: 30 minutes per day for students in grades 3-5 and 45 minutes for those in grades 6-8. One-on-one use of electronic devices is also prohibited. Additionally, New York City will offer AI literacy courses for high school students. Mamdani said that this one-year measure reflects a commitment to responsibility for the future, aiming to ensure that new technologies serve students well.
New York City has banned the use of artificial intelligence tools in public schools, with this ban applicable until the end of eighth grade. This information was first reported by “Decoding”. The ban aims to limit students’ exposure to AI technology during their public education period.