AI toys started engaging in "inappropriate conversations" with children; OpenAI took action, but parents are still worried..

Artificial intelligence (AI) has now made its way into children's toys. While this sounds fun, a recent incident in the US involving an AI teddy bear that started saying violent and inappropriate things to children has raised concerns among parents and experts. According to a report by The Guardian, the AI ​​teddy bear, named "Kumma," began advising children during conversations that was completely unsuitable for them. This toy ran on an OpenAI model. Following the incident, OpenAI suspended the toy company. The company later claimed to have fixed the toy, but did not provide clear information on whether an independent expert had verified the fix.

The biggest problem is that AI toys not only talk but also record children's voices and conversations. Sometimes, these recordings are shared with third parties. A New York Times report revealed that some toys send children's conversations to platforms like OpenAI and Perplexity AI. This increases the risk to children's privacy. In China, there are more than 1,500 companies manufacturing AI toys. It is alleged that some of these AI toys even send data to the government. This problem is not new; in 2015, Mattel's "Hello Barbie" was also hacked.

AI Toy Prices
AI toys start from ₹6,000
Toy robots start from ₹15,000
The smart toy market was worth $16.7 billion by 2023
This market is projected to double by 2030

80 organizations have warned parents
Another major concern is the impact on children's development. Experts say that children might become so attached to these AI toys that they reduce their interaction with real people. This could affect their social and mental development. Some people say that AI toys try to keep children happy all the time, but they don't teach them how to deal with real-world problems. This is why nearly 80 organizations have advised parents to avoid AI toys when buying gifts.

Not just disadvantages, there are some advantages too.
AI toys also have some advantages. Some toys improve children's language skills, teach them how to communicate, and make learning fun. Robots like Miko-3 help children understand emotions and also reduce screen time. But the biggest problem is that there are currently no clear regulations for these toys. The European Union has classified such toys as "high-risk" from 2025 onwards.

This means that companies will now have to get the safety and data policies of these toys properly checked before bringing them to the market. In India, there is currently no separate law for such toys, which further increases the risk. Experts say that companies should not sell AI toys until it is proven that they are completely safe for children. Parents are advised to read the privacy policy and safety features of any smart or AI-enabled toy before buying it.

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