AI Toys: Friend or Privacy Threat?

Nonprofit organization Fairplay has issued a stark warning against artificial intelligence-based children's toys, urging parents to avoid them during the holiday season. These AI-powered toys, functioning as chatbots designed to communicate like friends, are embedded in various forms like plushies and robots and are marketed even to infants.

Fairplay emphasizes the susceptibility of young children to potential harms, including privacy invasion, data collection, and the development of false trust. The organization notes that these toys can displace crucial human-to-human interaction and sensory play, potentially impacting child development. Concerns are amplified by instances like a toy offering inappropriate advice on sexual fetishes and self-harm, prompting a sales suspension and internal safety review.

While the Toy Association states that its members adhere to strict safety standards, Fairplay points out that AI chatbots have been linked to obsessive use, explicit conversations, and encouragement of unsafe behaviors. Most concerning is the potential for AI toys to invade family privacy through extensive data collection via audio and video recordings, raising alarms about sensitive information being shared with third parties.