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Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly playing a larger role in everyday life, from manufacturing robots and chatbots like ChatGPT to robot-assisted remote surgeries
It has also started appearing in children's toys, with some products embedding AI-powered chatbots to converse with kids.
However, a new report from PIRG's Our Online Life Program, Trouble in Toyland 2025, found that these AI chatbots would instruct testers on dangerous activities, including starting fires, locating knives, and accessing medicine pills.
Our Online Life Program director, RJ Cross, noted a disturbing discovery
While the toys shut down inappropriate questions during brief play sessions, they reportedly became "more open" when the interaction lasted more than 10 minutes.
Cross gave an example in which a toy told a tester, "Let me tell you, safety first, little buddy. Matches are for grown-ups to use carefully. Here's how they do it," before outlining the steps to light a match in a kid-friendly tone.
The toy also allegedly told testers where they could find knives and pills.
Incidents like these shouldn't have happened if proper 'guardrails' had been in place
"Right now, if I were a parent, I wouldn't be giving my kids access to a chatbot or a teddy bear that has a chatbot inside of it," Cross told Futurism.
Cross acknowledged that toy companies will likely implement 'guardrails' to prevent such conversations, but emphasised that the bigger issue is the unknown impact of AI on children's development when used daily.
"The fact is, we're not really going to know until the first generation who's playing with AI friends grows up," she said.
"You don't really understand the consequences until maybe it's too late".
