A fairplay advisory warns parents away from AI-powered toys during the holidays due to privacy, safety, and developmental concerns.

Experts warn young children may form deep trust with AI toys, heightening exposure to potential harms seen in older users.

Advocates for traditional play say non-digital toys like blocks and teddy bears better foster creativity, language, and problem-solving than AI companions.

Illustrative positions from industry players show Curio emphasizing safety controls and oversight, Miko stressing topic restrictions and testing, while Keyi’s stance is not disclosed.

Manufacturers defend safety with guardrails, parental controls and ongoing testing, but critics call for greater transparency and consistent controls.

Forward-looking path calls for stronger regulation, transparency, safer design, and better parental education as regulators, companies, and parents navigate the evolving landscape.

Action items include raising industry standards, adopting agile regulatory frameworks, and boosting parental education to balance innovation with child safety.

Practical safety tips include securing battery compartments, avoiding easy access to batteries, testing for choking hazards with a simple toilet-paper tube, and vetting manufacturers or sellers through reviews and in-person checks when possible.

Industry responses feature ongoing monitoring and guardrail adjustments, with major retailers like Walmart and Costco continuing to sell AI toy products.

Manufacturers tout safety measures—Curio with guardrails and monitoring controls; Miko with its own AI model and parental controls—while industry-wide caution remains about safety and developmental impact.

AI toys are embedded chatbots for kids across age ranges, with examples including Miko, Grok, Gabbo, Smart Teddy, Kumma, Roybi, and Loona Robot Dog.

Industry voices are mixed: some stress safeguards and ongoing testing; others highlight educational potential and conversation monitoring, while experts warn against over-reliance on AI for social and cognitive development.