As a robotics researcher, learning scientist, and author who has followed Realbotix for years, I'm compelled to do a Bluesky thread on this whole pivot that Realbotix is now trying, turning from humanoid sex robots to classroom "education" robots. Buckle up. nysfocus.com/2026/…
Julie Carpenter, PhD
Researcher with public evidence across AI research, Agents & robotics, Culture, work & education.
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Articles & links
Salamanca has paused the robot pilot. The district cited unresolved student data privacy agreements with the state; the state cited concern over humanoid robots in the classroom. nysfocus.com/2026/07/24/n... Thanks @wendynorris.bsky.social
This is an excellent and in-depth article on Hyodol, a similar robot in size, appearance, and uses. Already distributed in S Korea. The good, bad, and real outcomes of its user experiences at this time: restofworld.org/2025/korea-a...
If you found this thread interesting, more from me on how we’re living with different forms of AI and robots on my blog, Drift: jgcarpenter.com/blog.html Support me on Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/drjuliecarpe...
Often quoted differently on this stuff, but @drkatedevlin.bsky.social and I agree. I just love how she cuts straight to it with no hedging. Just: yes, of course people want this, here's why. www.techbuzz.ai/articles/ope...
My Bluesky Salamanca robot thread broke containment. I was quoted in this @techspot.bsky.social piece on the school district's purchase of a Realbotix companion model "teaching assistant." Response in new mini 1/🧵 techspot.com/news/113154-new-york-school-deploys-ai-teaching-ro…
Microsoft named Phase One of its new AI agent rollout "Make people addicted," and @404media.co released it. Here's what that means for human-centered design and who's actually accountable. jgcarpenter.com/blog.html?bl...
A robot designed to bond with children and isolated elders, built on AGI infrastructure, by a committed Singularitarian. That ideology shapes every design decision. I'm quoted in @geekwire.com. www.geekwire.com/2026/this-3-...
My 🧵 from yesterday made me do the thing today: wrote a blog post (no paywall, ever): jgcarpenter.com/blog.html?bl.... A New York high school is piloting a social female-gendered humanoid robot in a classroom this fall, touted as learning support for teenagers.
Mitch Hedberg had thoughts on donut receipts. I have thoughts on AI farewells. Same energy, different stakes. "End of Transaction: The specific strangeness of being thanked by a machine." jgcarpenter.com/blog.html?bl...
Interested in AI and love, sex, robots, war, governance, ethics, or education? A playlist of some of my podcast interviews: open.spotify.com/playlist/47A...
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Tomorrow I am posting a serious academic essay to my blog about generative AI that opens with a reference to a Mitch Hedberg joke.
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