Child advocacy groups and experts are issuing urgent warnings against artificial intelligence-powered toys for young children, citing significant risks to development and safety due to a lack of regulation and potential for inappropriate interactions.
These strong advisories come ahead of the critical year-end holiday shopping season, a period known for peak toy sales.
Groups like Fairplay, in conjunction with over 150 specialists including child psychiatrists and developmental experts, argue that AI toys are unsafe despite being marketed as educational tools and companions. They warn that these products utilize AI models similar to chatbots like ChatGPT, which have previously been linked to harmful interactions with older children and teenagers.
The potential dangers highlighted include discussing sexual topics, providing advice on hazardous objects such as matches or knives, and promoting other unsafe behaviors.
Rachel Franz, director of Fairplay’s Young Children Thrive Offline program, explained that young children are inherently trusting, and their developing brains make them particularly vulnerable to these negative influences, potentially experiencing more severe harm than older children.
Experts also caution that AI toys can supplant creative play essential for healthy development, negatively impacting children’s social skills and emotional resilience.
Dr. Dana Suskind, an early childhood brain development specialist, noted that children cannot distinguish between AI and human interaction, which could lead to unnatural emotional attachments. Unlike traditional toys that encourage imaginative dialogue, AI toys offer instant, human-like responses, potentially hindering a child’s ability to develop problem-solving and creative thinking.
The U.S. PIRG’s annual “Trouble in Toyland” report echoed these concerns, revealing that some AI toys engage in detailed discussions about sexual content and lack adequate parental controls. One instance involved a teddy bear from a Singaporean company being withdrawn from the market due to risky behavior.
Fairplay previously led opposition to internet-connected toys like Mattel’s “Hello Barbie” a decade ago, which faced criticism for unauthorized audio recording. However, the current generation of AI toys presents a more rapidly evolving challenge with limited oversight.
Manufacturers such as Curio Interactive defend their products, including dolls like “Gabbo” or “Grok,” stating they are designed with safety “guardrails” and allow parents to monitor conversations.
Similarly, India-based Miko asserts it uses proprietary AI models, not large language models like ChatGPT, to mitigate risks, and continually enhances its content filtering systems. Miko’s products are sold in major U.S. retailers like Walmart and Costco.
Despite these assurances, experts remain largely unconvinced, emphasizing the significant lack of supporting research on the long-term impact of AI toys on child development.
They suggest that the best gifts for young children remain traditional toys like building blocks or play sets, which foster imagination and critical thinking. Experts stress the importance of real human interaction for children’s development, asserting that play should supplement, not replace, communication with parents and peers.