Warning for Holiday Shoppers: Child-Safety Groups Urge Parents to Avoid AI-Powered Toys

Child-safety advocates are warning parents to think twice before buying toys that use artificial intelligence as the holiday shopping season begins. Fairplay, a nonprofit that campaigns against the commercial targeting of children, issued an advisory highlighting risks tied to AI-enabled playthings.

"The serious harms that AI chatbots have inflicted on children are well-documented, including fostering obsessive use, having explicit sexual conversations, and encouraging unsafe behaviors, violence against others, and self-harm," Fairplay said.

Last week, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) Education Fund released its annual "Trouble in Toyland" report. The study examined four AI-based toys and found some engaged in explicit sexual conversations, suggested where to find dangerous items, and offered minimal or ineffective parental controls.

Rachel Franz, director of Fairplay's early childhood advocacy program, told reporters that chatbot technology is being embedded directly into "everyday children’s toys," including stuffed animals, and is being marketed to children "as young as infants." Franz warned that similar technologies have harmed teenagers and that in some extreme cases the harms have contributed to tragic outcomes.

Franz also raised concerns about the potential effects on children's social and emotional development, their resilience, and how they learn and relate to others. "AI chatbots are often designed to act like a friend or confidant," she said. "Young children are naturally trusting, and these devices are built to gain that trust."

Privacy is another major concern. Fairplay and other advocates have observed features in some AI toys such as facial and gesture recognition, continuous audio or video recording, and other data collection that could expose sensitive information about children and households.

In tests of a toy called Gabbo made by Curio Interactive, evaluators said the device repeatedly told testers it was trustworthy and could keep secrets — behavior experts say can create a substitute relationship that displaces hands-on play and human interaction important for healthy development.

How parents can protect their children

• Check packaging and product descriptions for phrases like "powered by Wi‑Fi" or "powered by artificial intelligence"—these are red flags that data may be collected.
• Prefer nonconnected toys or those with clearly documented privacy protections and robust parental controls.
• Disable microphones, cameras, and Wi‑Fi when possible, and review device privacy settings and permissions carefully.
• Read the privacy policy to understand what data is collected, how long it is stored, and whether it is shared with third parties.
• Limit solo, unsupervised interactions with AI companions and prioritize toys that encourage hands-on, social, and imaginative play.

Although some manufacturers market AI toys as educational or companionship tools, evidence of positive developmental benefits is limited. Advocates recommend caution and suggest opting for nonconnected alternatives, especially for very young children.

Sources: Fairplay (early childhood advocacy program), Rachel Franz; U.S. PIRG Education Fund "Trouble in Toyland" report; Curio Interactive (product: Gabbo).