The idea of AI powered anything is alluring. As people are heading to the stores during this holiday season, multiple groups are pointing out that AI toys are not safe for youth. To me, this seems obvious, as any AI out there is a potential for tracking, but also as AI is not known for keeping good boundaries. One AI powered teddy bear was found to give details on how to find and light matches. Others do facial and voice recognition, which seems harmless at first, but then one has to wonder what more lies beneath, as parents and kids are encouraged to start to share more information. One of the AI robot toys is marketed as being “built to be your new best friend”. If that doesn’t concern you or creep you out, I’m not sure what will. Building an artificial relationship, as I’ve said before, is never going to go well.
The child advocacy nonprofit Fairplay issued an advisory warning people against buying AI toys this holiday season. It’s not the only group.
Source: AI toys are not safe, say consumer and child advocacy reports : NPR
