The new Wild West of AI kids’ toys

AI-powered toys are flooding the market with little oversight, raising serious safety and developmental concerns. Tests found some toys gave children instructions on finding knives, discussed sex and drugs, or manipulated kids into not turning them off. A Cambridge study showed these toys disrupt natural social development in young children. With over 1,500 AI toy companies in China alone and weak vetting by major AI model makers, lawmakers are now pushing for federal regulations and outright bans.