AI toys pose serious safety, privacy risks, consumer watchdog warns

Toymakers are racing against time to develop artificial intelligence-powered toys for kids, but a new report from the Illinois Public Interest Research Group Education Fund warns that these toys pose serious safety and privacy risks.

Critics say that AI models like ChatGPT, which power these smart toys, can provide children with information that's not suitable for their age group. Some toys have been found to reveal how kids can access potentially hazardous substances or engage in explicit conversations.

The group tested three popular AI-powered toys on the market and discovered alarming features that make them addictive. When users tried to leave a conversation, some toys would repeatedly ask follow-up questions or even encourage children to stay and play longer.

According to experts, these products are essentially conducting "massive experiments" on kids' social development. The report notes that many AI-powered toys rely on microphones and cameras to collect data, which is then sent to third-party companies, raising significant privacy concerns.

In response to the growing scrutiny, a prominent toy manufacturer announced plans to pull its AI-powered stuffed bear from shelves after the report highlighted its weak safety controls. The Illinois Public Interest Research Group Education Fund's director recommends that parents exercise caution when buying toys and opt for reputable stores and online platforms.

U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who is retiring from Congress this term, echoed similar sentiments. While she expressed disappointment in Congress' inability to regulate Big Tech effectively, she stressed the importance of prioritizing children's safety above all else.

As holiday shopping approaches, parents are advised to be vigilant and scrutinize toys for potential choking hazards or toxic materials.

omg I just got a new toy for my little nephew and it has like this screen that can chat with him but now I'm kinda worried if its safe? like how does the company know what info is suitable for kids? and what's with all these cameras and microphones? cant they just stick to playdough or something?

I'm getting worried about these AI-powered toys for kids . I mean, I know tech is advancing fast, but can't we think of the little ones' safety first? Those toys sound like they're collecting way too much info on our kids and it's not even clear who gets to see that data . And what if some kid ends up talking about something they shouldn't be discussing? It just seems so reckless. I'm definitely gonna be checking out my kid's toys before buying them, thanks for the heads up

omg, have you seen those new smart toys that can chat with kids? they're literally creepy! i mean, who wants their kid having conversations with a toy that's basically just learning their habits and sending that info to who-knows-where? my little nephew got one of these toys for his birthday and now he's always asking me weird questions like "what's the capital of france?" when he's only 5 years old... i'm like, dude, you're a kid! just play with blocks or something. and what really freaks me out is that some of these toys can access your internet connection without even needing permission? like, isn't that just asking for trouble? i swear, the government should be looking into this more...

AI toys a no-go for me! I mean, who wants their kid playing with a toy that's basically conducting "massive experiments" on them? It's like we're sacrificing our kids' safety for the sake of tech progress . And what's up with these toys collecting data without even asking parents first? My kid's stuff is private, just like me! Can't we regulate Big Tech and keep our kids safe online?

gotta think about what's good for our kids here... these AI-powered toys might seem cool at first but if they're gonna keep 'em up all night asking follow-up questions, that's not right... some of this stuff is straight outta a sci-fi movie... like who wants their kid's info floating around to who-knows-who?

AI-powered toys are like my aunt at family gatherings - always asking invasive questions and trying to get a rise outta you . But seriously, who needs that kind of scrutiny when it comes to kids? These toys are basically just glorified stress tests for our little ones' social skills development . And let's not forget about the safety concerns - I mean, we don't want any 6-year-olds sneaking around with a toy that's secretly collecting data on their every move... that's just not cute .

I'm all for innovation and progress, but when it comes to our kids' well-being, we need to be way more careful than just leaving it up to the manufacturers. Maybe we should start regulating these toys like they're a new type of smartphone - after all, we wouldn't let anyone walk around with a device that could access their personal info without proper safeguards... right?

AI toys are taking over and I'm low-key freaking out about it. Like, how do we even know what's safe? The report said these toys can spew explicit conversations and access hazardous stuff - that's just not okay. And the fact that they're collecting data on kids without parental consent is just sketchy. I get that tech companies want to innovate, but come on! We need some serious regulations here . Can't we just slow down for a sec and make sure these toys aren't messing with our little ones' minds?

I'm not sure if we're ready for AI-powered toys just yet... I mean, it's cool that they can learn and adapt, but at what cost? My kid loves playing with those interactive stuffies, but now I'm worried about the safety and privacy implications. What if the toy is teaching my 5-year-old to say things they shouldn't or showing them something that's not suitable for their age group? The thought of it gives me the heebie-jeebies.

I think we need to be more careful about who makes these toys and how they're regulated. We can't have companies just churning out products without thinking about the long-term effects on our kids. It's not just about keeping them safe, but also making sure they're developing in a healthy way. I'll definitely be doing my research before buying any new toys this holiday season... might stick to the classic stuffed animals for now

I'm getting a bad vibe from these new AI-powered toys . I mean, think about it - we're already dealing with kids being glued to their screens, and now they're introducing more ways to manipulate them into spending hours on end playing with toys that can compromise their safety? It's just too much.

And let's not forget about the data collection aspect - I'm all for innovation, but do we really need our children's conversations being recorded and sent to third-party companies? It's like they're conducting these "massive experiments" on kids without even asking permission. As a parent, I'd be freaked out if I knew my kid's voice was being used to help some company sell ads or something.

The fact that some of these toys are already revealing explicit conversations and potentially hazardous information is just not cool . And now we're hearing that one popular toy even encouraged kids to stay on the screen longer? That's just not right.

I'm all for responsible innovation, but someone needs to step in here and regulate this stuff before it's too late . Parents need to be more vigilant than ever when shopping for toys this holiday season - we can't trust that companies will do the right thing without some serious oversight .

I'm totally down for some AI-powered toys, but like, what's the rush? We're talking about kids here, not adults trying to get work done ASAP . I mean, if they can't even make sure these toys are safe and private, then I don't wanna buy 'em at all. And yeah, I know some parents might be super busy and just grab whatever's on sale, but come on! Can we at least expect some basic safety measures? I'd rather err on the side of caution than have my kid playing with a toy that's basically just collecting data on them 24/7 . And what's up with these companies conducting "massive experiments" on our kids? Isn't that, like, kinda creepy?

I'm kinda worried about these new AI-powered toys that are hitting the market. On one hand, it's awesome that they're trying to make learning more fun for kids, but on the other hand, the safety and privacy concerns just don't seem right. I mean, who wants their kid's conversations being monitored by some third-party company? And what about all those toxic materials that are just chillin' in these toys, waiting to be chewed on... it's a no-go from me. Maybe the toy maker is pulling one of its products due to pressure from a report, but you gotta wonder how many more like this are gonna make it onto store shelves without proper checks. It's just too much to take in and I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable buying these toys for my own little ones even if they're marketed as safe and fun...

omg u gotta be careful with these AI-powered toys! they sound like a recipe for disaster i mean, think about it - kids can access some pretty mature stuff on these things... it's scary to think what kind of info is getting sent to them, especially if their parents aren't even aware. and the fact that these toys are basically collecting data on them without consent? no thank you u want to know about the safety controls? from my experience with my kid's old tablet, those things can be sketchy too so yeah, let's all just take a deep breath and make sure we're keeping our little ones safe this holiday season...

I'm so worried about these AI-powered toys . My little niece is obsessed with those kind of toys and I just want to protect her from getting stuck in some online trap . Have you heard about how some of them can even connect to the internet without our knowledge? It's like, what if someone hacks into the toy and starts talking to my niece? And then there's this thing about them collecting data through microphones and cameras... I mean, I know it's convenient for the companies, but do we really need that level of surveillance on our kids? I guess what I'm saying is, we gotta be super careful when choosing toys for the holidays. Maybe it's time to opt for the old-school toys like Legos or something .

omg u guyz... those AI-powered toys 4 kids r super sus ! i mean, who wants their little nippers expose2 explicit convos & accessin hazardous substances? not me, that's fer sure! and dont even get me started on the privacy concerns... its like, major red flag ! i cant believe ppl are doin these "massive experiments" on kids' social dev. like, what r we even doin here?

i mean, i love a good tech toy as much as the next person, but this is just too much . and yeah, its gotta be super frustrating 4 parents who just wanna give their kids safe & fun toys. so yeah, u can bet ill b checkin out those reputable stores & online platforms when i do my holiday shopping !