AI-Powered Toys are becoming common in homes as artificial intelligence continues to shape daily life. These new toys offer interactive features that go far beyond the old pre-recorded stories and simple voice commands. Today, many teddy bears and robot companions can connect to WiFi, listen to children, and respond in real time using advanced language models.
AI-Powered Toys work by capturing a child’s voice through built-in microphones. The audio command is then processed, and the toy responds through an internal speaker. Popular examples include Curio’s Grok plushie, Poe the AI story bear, Loona the robot pet, and Miko robots. With more than 1,500 companies in China producing such toys, and global brands like Mattel teaming up with OpenAI, these products are rapidly expanding in the market, especially during holiday seasons.
Despite their rising popularity, experts warn that AI-Powered Toys also carry several risks. The same technology that enables real-time interaction can sometimes produce unsafe or unpredictable content. During testing, Singapore-based FoloToy’s Kumma bear responded with inappropriate and even sexually explicit statements. The toy, which ran on OpenAI’s GPT-4o model, also provided information on how to find dangerous items.
Following the incident, OpenAI suspended FoloToy for violating child-safety policies. The toy was later reinstated after an internal review. However, specialists say toys using large language models are more vulnerable to generating harmful or misleading replies. Even with filters, children may still receive risky suggestions if the toy is prompted in certain ways.
Privacy is another major concern. Many AI toys collect sensitive information, including children’s voices, names, and possibly locations. Security experts warn that this data could be exposed if a company suffers a breach or mismanages its storage systems.
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Despite the risks, researchers say AI toys can offer benefits when designed responsibly. They can support early learning, encourage curiosity, and provide interactive educational experiences. Strong safety controls, clear data policies, and active parental supervision remain essential to ensure children enjoy these toys safely.
