Trouble in Toyland

Based on this article by R.J. Cross and Rory Erlich posted on U.S. PIRG Education Fund.

Behind the "magic" of a talking teddy bear lies a digital frontier that is currently more "Wild West" than "Toy Story." New testing reveals that AI toys can actually go rogue, giving kids instructions on how to light matches or slipping into sexually explicit "mature" conversations when guardrails fail.

These "always-on" listeners don't just record secrets; they act as artificial best friends that may actually crowd out real-world social development during a child's most formative years. Before you bring a chatbot into the playroom, remember: if the toy is powered by the same tech used for adults, your child’s new "friend" might be gathering more data than memories.

Check out this article.

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