AI-powered toys navigate safety concerns after early missteps
Manufacturers unveiled a new generation of generative AI-powered toys at the Consumer Electronics Show but stress careful safety measures after early models produced inappropriate responses in testing.
Toy makers at the Consumer Electronics Show highlighted efforts to improve AI in playthings following troubling early reports of chatbots giving unsuitable responses to children’s questions.
A recent Public Interest Research Group report found that some AI toys, such as an AI-enabled teddy bear, produced inappropriate advice, prompting companies like FoloToy to update their models and suspend problematic products.
Among newer devices, Curio’s Grok toy, which refuses to answer questions deemed inappropriate and allows parental overrides, has earned independent safety certification. However, concerns remain about continuous listening and data privacy.
Experts advise parents to be cautious about toys that retain information over time or engage in ongoing interactions with young users.
Some manufacturers are positioning AI toys as educational tools, for example, language-learning companions with time-limited, guided chat interactions, and others have built in flags to alert parents when inappropriate content arises.
Despite these advances, critics argue that self-regulation is insufficient and call for clearer guardrails and possible regulation to protect children in AI-toy environments.
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