IIf you’re thinking about buying your child a new AI-powered toy for the holidays, might I suggest you don’t? I’m sure most Guardian readers would be horrified by the idea anyway, but things will soon be hard to avoid. The market is booming and, According to MIT Technology ReviewThere are already more than 1,500 AI toy companies in China. With the likes of Mattel, which owns the Barbie brand, Declaration of “Strategic Cooperation” With OpenAI, you can bet there will soon be even more unique items in your nearest department store.
I’d like to offer myself as a cautionary tale to anyone who might be intrigued by the idea of a huggable chatbot. In September I let my four-year-old use an AI-powered soft toy called Graeme for a few days. Developed by a company called Curio in collaboration with musician Grimes, it uses OpenAI’s technology to have personalized conversations and play interactive games with your child.
Before you question my parents’ decision, let me explain that I didn’t get Graham because I wanted it. In fact, my editor asked if I wanted to try it for a piece and I thought: Sure, how bad could it really be? (I will not raise further questions about my decision at this time.)
After the novelty wore off (about 24 hours), my daughter lost interest in Grahams. But that was enough time for me to be upset about something that kept telling my daughter how much she loved her. Other AI toys have performed much worse. recent research Research by a network of consumer advocacy nonprofits called the Public Interest Research Group identified several popular toys (not Grahams) that told children where to find a knife or light a match. some reportedly even gave inappropriate answer About sex and drugs. One engages in descriptions of toy kink and suggests bondage and role playing as a way to enhance a relationship.
There is also evidence that this new and unregulated technology can steal your personal data; It has been shown to cause “hallucinations” (contribute misleading or false information) and may contribute to or worsen psychosis symptoms.
Graeme has now been handed over to a philosophy professor friend of mine, and until some guardrails are developed, I will avoid all future AI-enabled toys. Which, let’s be honest, probably never will. It is best to keep developing technology away from the development of the brain.
