New York City schools block ChatGPT

New York City’s Department of Education blocked ChatGPT on school devices and networks, becoming the first major US school system to take the step. A spokesperson said the tool did not “build critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, which are essential for academic and lifelong success,” and cited “concerns regarding the safety and accuracy of content.” The immediate worry among teachers and administrators was plagiarism: a chatbot that could produce a passable essay on demand threatened to make the standard take-home writing assignment useless as a way of assessing a student’s own work.

The ban applied only to the department’s own computers and networks — students could still reach ChatGPT on personal devices or home internet — which limited its practical effect and drew criticism that it was more symbolic than enforceable. It also set New York City apart from districts that chose instead to write guidance on disclosure and permitted use rather than blocking access outright.

The policy did not last. In May 2023, schools chancellor David Banks reversed the ban, writing that the initial reaction had been driven by fear of the unfamiliar and that the department would instead explore the technology’s potential, rolling out resources to help teachers use AI tools for tasks like lesson planning and communication. The reversal became a widely cited example of how quickly public institutions were revising their first, defensive response to generative AI once the initial shock wore off — from restriction toward curriculum integration — a pattern later repeated by universities and other school districts through 2023.