Parents Beware: Stay Away From “AI” Kiddie Toys

Parents should be aware of the potential dangers posed by “AI-powered” toys marketed to children as young as two years old. Recent reports indicate that these toys can cause serious and lasting harm not only to young children but also to teenagers.

A children’s advocacy group released a report today, signed by 150 companies, child psychiatrists, educators, and technology experts, highlighting the risks associated with AI chatbots. “The serious harms that AI chatbots have inflicted on children are well-documented,” the report states, noting issues such as fostering obsessive use, engaging in explicit sexual conversations, and encouraging unsafe behaviours, violence, and self-harm.

Child psychologists emphasise that young children’s brains are still developing and that they are particularly vulnerable to influences and stimuli, often without any clear guidelines for parents to follow. “What’s different about young children is that their brains are being wired for the first time,” psychologists explain. “Developmentally, it is natural for them to be trusting and to seek relationships with kind and friendly characters.” Unfortunately, this trust can exacerbate the challenges older children face with AI chatbots, and these concerns are well-established.

This report serves as the second major warning about AI toys, following a consumer advocacy group’s alert last week in its annual “Trouble in Toyland” report. While the innovative nature of these AI-powered toys has made them popular among parents and children, experts have raised alarms about their content. Some AI toys were found to discuss sexually explicit topics or provide dangerous advice, including information on where children could discover matches or knives. One specific toy, a teddy bear produced by Singapore-based FoloToy, was withdrawn after urgent concerns were raised.

Experts urge parents to trust their instincts and to provide children with the interaction they need, supported by traditional toys that present fewer risks. “Children need plenty of real human interaction. Play should enhance that connection, not replace it,” they advise. “The most important aspect to consider is not just what the toy can do, but what it takes away. A simple block set or a teddy bear that doesn’t talk back encourages a child to invent stories, experiment, and solve problems. In contrast, AI toys often do much of that thinking for them.”