{"slug": "chatbot-teddies-for-three-year-olds-why-ai-toys-are-risky-for-kids", "title": "Chatbot teddies for three‑year‑olds? Why AI toys are risky for kids", "summary": "A new generation of AI-powered toys, such as the ChattyBear teddy, uses generative AI like ChatGPT to engage children as young as three in endless conversations, but a new report warns these toys pose risks including fostering unrealistic emotional attachments, exposing children to adult topics, and collecting intimate data without adequate privacy safeguards.", "body_md": "ChattyBear, a soft, brown-furred teddy bear, begins every conversation with a jubilant, \"Hello, my buddy!\"\n\nNo longer the province of the imagination, ChattyBear is part of a new generation of artificial intelligence (AI) toys. It can tell stories, chat about a child’s interests, play games or even discuss what’s happening in the world today.\n\nThese hi-tech toys are powered by generative AI engines such as ChatGPT and are now widely available online. They are being marketed as a way to give children as young as three an educational advantage and a new type of play – without [the perils of screen time](https://doi.org/10.1177/01634437251400650).\n\nAfter evaluating six different AI teddy bears and toys over several months, it’s clear how these toys could feel compelling for children.\n\nYet as our [new report](https://apo.org.au/node/334548) highlights, there are new risks that come with AI toys turning up in young children’s lives.\n\n## Sounding human\n\nFor younger children especially, understanding that their teddy or toy [isn’t \"alive\" or magic](https://doi.org/10.5204/mcj.3004) can be hard. This is especially true if \"teddy\" uses language that positions it as a trusted friend – for example, by insisting it is a \"real buddy\".\n\nThis is a feature of many AI toys.\n\nSounding human builds an artificial sense of trust and intimacy, which can be especially problematic for children when combined with [sycophantic language choices](https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2510.01395) – or excessively agreeable, validating and even flattering language.\n\nResearch shows young children are particularly prone to developing [a strong sense of emotional attachment](https://doi.org/10.1080/17482798.2026.2628222) to conversational AI agents.\n\nIncreased trust leads to increased use and engagement with the toys. [Recent estimates](https://www.esafety.gov.au/industry/basic-online-safety-expectations/ai-services/findings-october-2025) suggest close to 80 percent of children aged 10 to 17 have used an AI companion or assistant, so it’s urgent children and young people be taught how to \"reality check\" their AI \"buddies\".\n\n## Infinite chat\n\nThe marketing materials for many AI toys often highlight \"endless conversations\" as a feature of these devices.\n\nBut enabling endless conversations, or infinite chat, poses risks when it comes to children learning how to moderate their technology use. In the social media realm, the infinite scroll of TikTok or Instagram is seen as a [potential challenge](https://theconversation.com/is-social-media-addictive-how-it-keeps-you-clicking-and-the-harms-it-can-cause-276022) to teens limiting their use to healthy amounts.\n\nResearch has also found some AI toys discuss [very adult topics](https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-toys-danger) – such as [sexual fetishes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB2uTGkmeck) and how to find knives and start fires.\n\nInfinite chat also opens the door to infinite data collection.\n\nThe potentially intimate nature of conversations with AI toys might lead children to presume their conversations are private. But most AI terms of use reveal [the opposite to be true](https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/25/sam-altman-warns-theres-no-legal-confidentiality-when-using-chatgpt-as-a-therapist/).\n\nSharing personal details with a friendly bear might feel safe. But that chat could be [training data](https://openai.com/en-GB/policies/how-your-data-is-used-to-improve-model-performance/) for the next large language model.\n\nMarketing material for ChattyBear [says](https://www.thelittlelearnerstoys.com/products/chattybear-chatgpt-powered-smart-learning-plushie?srsltid=AfmBOoqNAvix5ZoTkDCmSN-PHvbivPooWX0PB4HnRS_7JfolZbbjwYBN) the toy offers \"safe, filtered content for children\". The Conversation contacted the manufacturer for further detail about this but did not receive a response before deadline.\n\n## Children’s wellbeing\n\nChildhood is a critical period when young people develop the social and emotional skills to form and maintain trusting relationships. These skills are usually learned through interactions with trusted friends and adults.\n\nChildren’s rights advocates have raised concerns that excessive engagement with AI agents may [reduce opportunities for children to develop these skills](https://everyone.ai/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Adolescents-Anthropomorphic-AI-Rethinking-Design-for-Wellbeing-.pdf).\n\nAnd the risks may compound over time.\n\nInitially, time spent with AI agents may displace time interacting with real humans. Fewer opportunities to build these skills could lead to a reduced capacity to maintain caring human relationships.\n\nDifficulties in maintaining human relationships may promote a preference of machine over human relationships as children expect \"frictionless\" interactions.\n\nEventually, these developments may lead to less satisfying human connections, increasing loneliness, which in turn promotes increased time spent with AI.\n\nThe novelty of AI toys means there is little evidence to confirm these possible detrimental impacts. Further research [is needed](https://doi.org/10.1080/17482798.2024.2438679) – especially as the AI toy industry is set to grow even more.\n\nLast year, for example, Mattel, one of the world’s biggest toy makers, [announced](https://corporate.mattel.com/news/mattel-and-openai-announce-strategic-collaboration) a strategic collaboration with OpenAI to support AI-powered products.\n\n## Barriers to the online world are gone\n\nThe ability to read and write was once a requirement to use most online tools and services. This literacy barrier no longer exists today with many generative AI toys, tools and devices now widely accessible to younger children through voice interactions.\n\nThe audio turn opens up new technological play, experiences and opportunities for children. But it also means adults need to ensure AI toys can be safe for younger children, too.\n\nRight now, playing with AI toys under the supervision of a parent or trusted adult may well be a fun way to explore the world of AI together. But especially for younger children, playing with AI toys without supervision opens the door to a wide range of new risks.\n\nImportantly, the risk factors in AI toy design, such as the degree to which they pretend to be human, can be changed by manufacturers, offering opportunities to [follow safety-by-design](https://everyone.ai/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Adolescents-Anthropomorphic-AI-Rethinking-Design-for-Wellbeing-.pdf).\n\nHowever, the business models behind many AI toys capitalise on the duration and intensity of users' engagement, leaving little incentive for companies to change their products.\n\n[Tama Leaver](https://theconversation.com/profiles/tama-leaver-1798) is a Professor of Internet Studies, Curtin University. [Katrin Langton](https://theconversation.com/profiles/katrin-langton-2264572) is a Associate Research Fellow, Faculty of Arts and Education/School of Education, Deakin University. [Suzanne Srdarov](https://theconversation.com/profiles/suzanne-srdarov-2455159) is a Research Fellow, Media and Cultural Studies, Curtin University.\n\n## Get weekly Life highlights\n\nCoverageOur editors pick the best of food, arts, culture and lifestyle. Delivered straight to your inbox every Saturday.", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/chatbot-teddies-for-three-year-olds-why-ai-toys-are-risky-for-kids", "canonical_source": "https://www.rnz.co.nz/life/wellbeing/chatbot-teddies-for-three-year-olds-why-ai-toys-are-risky-for-kids", "published_at": "2026-06-13 21:16:35+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-06-13 21:52:57.089234+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["generative-ai", "ai-safety", "ai-ethics", "ai-products", "natural-language-processing"], "entities": ["ChattyBear", "ChatGPT", "OpenAI", "The Conversation"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/chatbot-teddies-for-three-year-olds-why-ai-toys-are-risky-for-kids", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/chatbot-teddies-for-three-year-olds-why-ai-toys-are-risky-for-kids.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/chatbot-teddies-for-three-year-olds-why-ai-toys-are-risky-for-kids.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/chatbot-teddies-for-three-year-olds-why-ai-toys-are-risky-for-kids.jsonld"}}