Latest posts

  • AI toys for young children must be more tightly regulated, say researchers

    University of Cambridge study finds AI-powered toys can misread emotions and respond inappropriately to children 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…

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  • After a teddy bear talked about kink, AI watchdogs are warning parents against smart toys

    Advocates are fighting against the $16.7bn global smart-toy market, decrying surveillance and a lack of regulation As the holiday season looms into view with Black Friday, one category on people’s gift lists is causing increasing concern: products with artificial intelligence. The development has raised new concerns about the dangers smart toys could pose to children,…

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  • ‘I love you too!’ My family’s creepy, unsettling week with an AI toy

    The cuddly chatbot Grem is designed to ‘learn’ your child’s personality, while every conversation they have is recorded, then transcribed by a third party. It wasn’t long before I wanted this experiment to be over … ‘I’m going to throw that thing into a river!” my wife says as she comes down the stairs looking…

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