In the near future, imagine walking into your child’s room only to find a teddy bear engrossed in reading a personalized bedtime story. This isn’t just any story though, as it’s tailored to your child’s likes, dislikes, and even their deepest secrets. While Teddy Ruxpin and Furbys were considered creepy in the past, the world of artificial intelligence-powered smart toys is rapidly expanding, with a wave of AI ChatGPT-powered toys set to hit the market this holiday season. However, it’s important to remember that these toys are not all fun and games.
Picture a toy that learns everything about your child. Your child can engage in full conversations with the toy, and it will respond with complete, intelligent sentences. The more your child interacts with the toy, the smarter it becomes. VTech CEO and toymaker Allan Wong is betting the future of the company on a line of AI teddy bears that offer parents an alternative to traditional bedtime rituals. These interactive plushies use chatbot-style technology to create customized stories, calm tantrums, entertain, and educate children. It’s highly likely that your child will form a genuine bond with this toy. However, it’s crucial to recognize that these toys may also collect sensitive data about your family, including school and home locations, raising concerns about privacy.
Similar to adult smart devices, these new AI toys are not exempt from privacy concerns. When a toy has recording capabilities, the data is often collected, stored, and possibly shared with third-party buyers. We’ve seen this issue arise in the past, such as with the Hello Barbie, an Internet-connected doll that recorded and saved conversations. The invasion of privacy and security risks associated with such toys are alarming, and safeguards must be put in place. Manufacturers like Mattel, the maker of Hello Barbie, have faced lawsuits and made changes to comply with privacy laws. Kids may find it exciting to talk to their toys, but it’s crucial to understand that a significant amount of personal information is being collected in the process.
While it may be challenging to completely avoid AI toys, as they are becoming increasingly common in households, there are steps you can take to ensure the safety and privacy of your family. If possible, disable features like cameras and chat functionalities. Enable any parental controls provided by the toys and always thoroughly read the privacy policy. Ensure that there is a way to reset the toy and erase its capabilities and stored data when your child stops using it. With that said, it might be worth attempting to persuade your child that there are cooler things than AI toys, perhaps even the notorious Lego pieces that we all dread stepping on.
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