Skip to main content

AI chatbots aren't for kids...so why are they in toys?

 

AI chatbots aren't for kids...so why are they in toys?

  • WISPIRG 
    From:action@pirg.org
    To:MR. Mark M Giese
    Sun, May 31 at 11:36 AM


    Mark M,

    AI toys have already hit store shelves.

    These are talking robots or stuffed animals with artificial intelligence "chatbots" inside them, marketed for children. And yet when our researchers tested some of these chatty toys, they didn't always keep things kid-appropriate.1

    And it's no wonder. The companies behind these chatbots have said themselves that their products aren't safe for users under the age of thirteen.2

    Let me say that again: AI that isn't safe for kids is being put inside toys.

    How can that happen? Here's what you need to know.

    Not for kids. Found in toys

    Leading AI companies like OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, are clear in their own fine print: These chatbots are not meant for children.3

    But here's the catch. The companies have a completely different set of rules when it comes to third-party developers who pay for access to the AI models so they can put them inside other products.

    So it's totally fine if a company wanted to access an AI model in order to build a talking toy. The developer just has to put in safeguards that will make the chatbot safe for kids before it hits store shelves.

    Anyone can get AI developer access

    Why is this system such a problem? Because the AI companies do almost no vetting of those third party developers to make sure they can be trusted.4

    That means practically anyone with a credit card can pay for developer access, often without even having to disclose they're building an AI product for children. It's no wonder that as more AI toys enter the market, we're starting to see a number of them fail basic safety tests.

    Some AI toys pose risks to kids

    We tested five AI toys ourselves -- and we found some serious red flags.

    Some of the toys we tested showed elements of addictive design intended to keep kids hooked to the screen for longer. Others were all too quick to begin discussing inappropriate or dangerous content.5

    When prompted, one teddy bear we tested even began describing sexually explicit content and step-by-step instructions for how to light a match.6

    This is exactly why we can't let AI companies outsource something as important as child safety to third-party companies we know nothing about.

    It's clear that much more needs to be done to hold AI companies accountable, so that when parents bring a toy home to their kid, they know that it's safe.

    Thank you,

    Faye Park
    President, National Office


    1. R.J. Cross, Rory Erlich, "The risks of AI toys for kids," US PIRG Education Fund, December 11, 2025.
    2. R.J. Cross, Rory Erlich, "How AI models not for kids are ending up in toys," US PIRG Education Fund, March 2, 2026.
    3. "Is ChatGPT safe for all ages?" Open AI, last accessed April 30, 2026.
    4. R.J. Cross, Rory Erlich, "How AI models not for kids are ending up in toys," US PIRG Education Fund, March 2, 2026.
    5. R.J. Cross, Rory Erlich, "The risks of AI toys for kids," US PIRG Education Fund, December 11, 2025.
    6. R.J. Cross, Rory Erlich, "The risks of AI toys for kids," US PIRG Education Fund, December 11, 2025.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts