AI toys for young children must be more tightly regulated, say researchers | AI (artificial intelligence)

University of Cambridge study: Conducted on the interaction between AI-powered toys and young children, highlighting their struggle with social and pretend play and the potential issues arising from misunderstanding children or reacting inappropriately to emotions.
Toy example: Gabbo, an AI soft toy, fails to respond appropriately when a five-year-old child declared, “Gabbo, I love you,” suggesting a need for better regulation in the context of emotional affirmation.
Call for regulation: Developmental psychologists advocate for tighter regulation of AI toys interacting with young children to ensure psychological safety and the proper limits on expressing friendship or personal connection.
Developmental concerns: Early years practitioners express significant fear and uncertainty regarding the implications of AI toys on children’s imaginative play and data privacy, emphasizing a potential erosion of imaginative skills.
Findings on social and imaginative misunderstandings: The study revealed frequent issues in toys’ ability to follow-up on pretend play scenarios and recognize such interactions, raising further concerns about their use.
Response from tech company: Curio, the company behind Gabbo, affirms their commitment to child safety and welcomes research to improve the development of these toys, acknowledging areas of limitation needing future improvements.

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