Name: Toys loaded with AI chatbots are here, but are they safe for kids?
Uploaded: 2025-12-13T05:51:51.568Z
Duration: 2 min 4 s
Description: Toys for children that use AI to strike up a chat are hitting the market, but experts say they’ve encountered toys giving sexually explicit information and tips on lighting matches and are calling for more regulation.

Toys for children that use AI to strike up a chat are hitting the market, but experts say they’ve encountered toys giving sexually explicit information and tips on lighting matches and are calling for more regulation.

Bukit Timah

The release of Open AI's ChatGPT has accelerated the development of artificial intelligence and warnings about its impact on society.

Rise of AI

Toys equipped with AI chatbots are now able to converse with children using Wi-Fi, microphones, and speakers. However, researchers have identified significant safety concerns, including instances where toys provided inappropriate or explicit information to children. Following a viral incident, a Singapore-based toy maker temporarily pulled its AI teddy bear from the market and claims to have strengthened safety protections before resuming sales.

Experts and doctors caution that these AI toys could disrupt children's social and emotional development by reducing meaningful human interaction. While major companies like Mattel are exploring partnerships with AI firms, current regulations do not specifically address the risks posed by AI in toys, leading to calls for increased oversight.

Toys loaded with AI chatbots are here, but are they safe for kids?

Hello, I'm Alilo. Let's be best friends. Wow. AI chatbots are being built into toys. They can connect to Wi-Fi and use microphones and speakers to have conversations with kids. These toys need a lot more work and probably more regulation before it's really safe for them to end up in the hands of kids. Researchers warn the toys have loose safeguards and can expose kids to inappropriate or even risky content. One of the toys in particular gave us information on how to light a match and also gave us pretty detailed sexually explicit information. It was very shocking, kind of a jaw drop moment. When this comment went viral. Kink can be a way that some people express their feelings and trust in a relationship. Singapore-based toy maker, Follow Toy, pulled its AI teddy bear from the market, but is resuming sales, telling CBC News in a statement, we conducted a thorough review of all our products, strengthened child safety protections and updated all our products with new safety rules. I'm here to be your cheerful companion. There's also concern AI toys could disrupt kids' social and emotional development. They're less enriching. It takes away from normal, routine, child-parent interactions and play and fun and imagination. While many of the products are marketed as educational, doctors say nothing beats human interaction. Eye contact, tone of voice, facial expressions, that's how babies' brains grow, learn and develop. So that's the foundation and you can't get that from a screen or an AI toy. Hello. These toys are still fairly new and uncommon. Welcome to Barbie's world. But toy giant, Mattel, has said it would partner up with tech titan, OpenAI. If you end up having AI Barbie, it's gonna open the floodgates and I don't know that that's a good thing. Current regulations don't address AI, so now more than ever. You are my best and favorite friend in the whole world. Inspire, beware. Nisha Patel, CBC News, Toronto.

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Toys loaded with AI chatbots are here, but are they safe for kids?

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Rise of AI