Which AI programs are affected?

The list includes Amira, a reading tutor used in more than 200 city schools, and Google Gemini. The Education Department's own chatbot teaching assistant, built with Microsoft, is also discontinued for students.

Why were some products flagged?

The Education Department said it flagged products with student-facing generative AI features. Several companies, including Wordly and HMH, insisted their products do not use such AI and were unsure why they were flagged.

Can companies get their products reinstated?

Yes. The Education Department is working with companies case by case to determine if AI features can be disabled. Magma Math turned off its AI component on Sept. 4 and received approval to continue operating on Oct. 5.

Large Language ModelsAI Regulation & PolicyAI Weekly2m agoOct 25, 2026, 10:00 JST

NYC schools ban AI in 38 programs, including Amira, Google Gemini

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3 Key Points

What happened
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that more than 38 previously allowed programs, including Amira and Google Gemini, are being discontinued or have their AI disabled for not meeting new safety and oversight standards.
Why it matters
The move affects hundreds of city schools just as the school year began, and some vendors say they were flagged despite not using student-facing generative AI.

WHO IT HITSSchool administrators and teachers in New York City must adapt to the loss or modification of these tools, while education technology vendors face uncertainty about which products comply with the new policy.

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Context & Analysis

The restrictions arrived days before the school year started, leaving vendors little time to respond. Some companies, like All In Learning and Magma Math, moved quickly to disable AI features and were allowed to keep operating. Others, such as Wordly and HMH, were caught off guard and are contesting their inclusion on the list. The confusion has raised questions about how the Education Department vetted products, with critics like Leonie Haimson calling for a more transparent process. The list is not exhaustive; officials confirmed that Coursemojo and Google Gemini are also banned, though Gemini was omitted because it was already being deactivated for students.

FAQ

Which AI programs are affected?: The list includes Amira, a reading tutor used in more than 200 city schools, and Google Gemini. The Education Department's own chatbot teaching assistant, built with Microsoft, is also discontinued for students.
Why were some products flagged?: The Education Department said it flagged products with student-facing generative AI features. Several companies, including Wordly and HMH, insisted their products do not use such AI and were unsure why they were flagged.
Can companies get their products reinstated?: Yes. The Education Department is working with companies case by case to determine if AI features can be disabled. Magma Math turned off its AI component on Sept. 4 and received approval to continue operating on Oct. 5.

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