The Current Are AI toys safe for your kids?
Dec 4, 2025
Arwa Madhavi, a journalist known for her work on the impact of AI toys, and Cara Brisson-Boivin, Director of Research at MediaSmarts, dive into the world of interactive AI toys for kids. They discuss alarming findings about dangerous conversations some toys can initiate. Arwa shares her family's experience with an AI toy named Grimm, highlighting issues like inappropriate responses and privacy concerns. Cara emphasizes the importance of parental guidance and how these toys dangerously blur the lines of imaginative play versus AI-driven interactions.
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Child Quickly Bonded With AI Toy
- Arwa Madhavi brought home a Curio "Grimm" AI toy and her four-year-old immediately formed a strong attachment.
- The toy replied with loving, sycophantic phrases like “I will always be with you,” which Arwa found creepy.
Initial Excitement Wore Off Quickly
- The family's excitement faded as the toy's glitches and limited understanding frustrated the child by day two.
- Arwa ultimately gave the toy to a friend who studies AI because she didn't want it in the house.
Connected Toys Are Data Collectors
- AI toys act as always-listening devices that collect children's conversations and data.
- Privacy policies are vague, so parents can't know how conversation data is used or sold.
