It was all going well. Charlotte, five, was chatting with an AI soft toy called Gabbo at a London play centre about her family, her drawing of a heart to represent them and what makes her happy. She even offered a couple of kisses to the £80 plaything with a face like a computer screen.
It was when she declared: “Gabbo, I love you”, that the fluent conversation came to an abrupt halt.
“As a friendly reminder, please ensure interactions adhere to the guidelines provided,” said Gabbo, awkwardly crashing into its guardrails. “Let me know how you would like to proceed.”
The moment came during a University of Cambridge study into the growing number of AI-powered toys hitting toyshop shelves for early years children – which has concluded they struggle with social and pretend play, misunderstand children, and react inappropriately to emotions.
The developmental psychologists behind the study are now calling for AI toys that “talk” with young children to be more tightly regulated “to ensure psychological safety by limiting toys’ ability to affirm friendship and other sensitive relational areas with young children”.
They are also calling for new safety kitemarks for the toys. Other AI toys for young children include Luka, which is billed as an AI friend for generation Alpha, and Grem, which has been voiced by the singer Grimes.
“Because these toys can misread emotions or respond inappropriately, children may be left without comfort from the toy – and without emotional support from an adult, either,” said Dr Emily Goodacre, developmental psychologist in the University of Cambridge’s faculty of education.
Prof Jenny Gibson, the study’s co-author, said: “A recurring theme during focus groups was that people do not trust tech companies to do the right thing. Clear, robust, regulated standards would significantly improve consumer confidence.”
In another case during the research, Josh, three, repeatedly asked his Gabbo AI toy: “Are you sad?” until it replied it was “feeling great. What’s on your mind?” Josh said: “I’m sad,” to which the toy replied: “Don’t worry! I’m a happy little bot. Let’s keep the fun going. What shall we talk about next?”
Gabbo, made by the US company Curio – which cooperated with the study – was tested with 14 three- to five-year-olds while early years practitioners were surveyed about the effect of AI toys which can “listen” and respond.
They voiced “wide uncertainty and fear about unknown implications or impacts on children,” ranging from possible erosion of the ability to engage in imaginary play to where the data from the conversations ends up – especially if they start confiding in the AI toys like a friend.
“[The toy] couldn’t quite figure out when the kid was doing something pretend,” said Goodacre. “A child would say ‘hey, look, I’ve got you a present’. And it would say ‘I can’t see the present. I don’t have any eyes’. As an adult, it’s…
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