New York City’s public schools, the largest school system in the United States, will implement a temporary ban on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools by students in grades K through 8 during the upcoming school year. The one-year moratorium, announced by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, applies to any software that uses generative AI—technology that can create text, images, or other content—in student-facing settings. The policy is described as the most comprehensive AI restriction in the country, aimed at evaluating how students engage with the technology and ensuring its safe and effective use. Alongside the ban, the city plans to introduce AI literacy classes twice a year for all high school students. These classes will help students understand how AI works, its potential benefits, and its limitations. Additionally, some high school students will be allowed to use select AI platforms under the supervision of teachers, though the use of AI chatbots is prohibited across all grades. The policy reflects a broader effort to balance the integration of AI in education with the need to prevent overreliance on the technology or its misuse, such as cheating. The decision comes as schools nationwide grapple with the growing role of AI in education. Educators are trying to teach students how to use these tools effectively while ensuring they do not become too dependent or use them inappropriately. Mayor Mamdani emphasized the importance of critical thinking in the classroom, stating that students should be encouraged to question and analyze AI-generated information just as they are taught to question other sources. In addition to the AI policy, the city will recommend daily screen-time limits for students in grades three through eight, capping it at 30 to 45 minutes per day. Teachers, however, will still be permitted to use AI for planning lessons and managing school operations. While New York state has already banned the use of cellphones in schools, there is still no universal agreement on how AI literacy should be taught or defined, with at least 37 states providing their own AI guidance for schools. Education officials also plan to review all technology tools currently used in schools and remove those deemed unnecessary for learning. While some education leaders praised the screen-time limits, others expressed concerns that the AI policy leaves important questions unresolved, such as how the city will ensure that AI tools purchased for schools include proper safeguards. Critics also argued that a one-year moratorium may not be sufficient time to fully assess the impact of AI on students, emphasizing the need for AI platforms to prove their educational value and safety before being used in schools.