CUTE AND IT TALKS! BUT IS IT SAFE?

Al toys are here and more are on the way, along with concerns about their effect on your kids.

- BY QUEENIE WONG

AN INTERACTIVE DOLL is ready for its close-up at an expo in China.

(YING TANG NurPhoto)

Stuffed animals that talk back. Chessboards with pieces that move on their own. And a chatty holographic fairy in a crystal ball.

Your next toy purchase might be powered by artificial intelligence and able to converse with your kids.

Chatbots and AI-powered assistants that can quickly answer questions and generate texts have become more common after the rise of OpenAI's ChatGPT. As AI becomes more intertwined in our work and personal lives, it's also shaking up playtime.

Startups already unleashed AI toys in time for the holidays. More are set to hit the shelves for both kids and adults in the new year.

Some parents are excited to test the toys, hoping the chatty bot interactions will educate and entertain their children. Others don't want the seemingly sentient tech near their loved ones until it has more guardrails and undergoes further testing.

Researchers at the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund say they already found problems with some toys they tested. Among the issues: an AI teddy bear that could be prompted into discussing sexual fetishes and kink, according to to the group.

Toy makers say AI can make play more interactive and insist they take safety and privacy seriously. Some have placed more limits around how chatty some products can be.

They say they are taking their time figuring out how to use AI safely with children.El Segundo-based Mattel, the maker of Barbie and Hot Wheels, announced this year that it teamed up with OpenAI to create more AI-powered toys. The initial plan was to unveil their first joint product this year, but that announcement has been pushed back into 2026.

Here’s what you need to know about AI toys:

What's an AI toy?

Toys have featured the latest technology for decades.