NYC's Department of Education adopts a policy barring public school students from using AI until high school, banning companion chatbots in all grades, and more (Matthew Haag/New York Times)

New York City’s Department of Education is taking a restrictive, age-based approach to AI in schools, barring younger students from using AI tools until high school and prohibiting companion chatbots across all grades. For CIOs and technology leaders, the move underscores growing pressure to implement clear AI governance, age-appropriate safeguards, and vendor controls that balance innovation with student safety, compliance, and public trust.