Senators demand answers on AI toys from leading manufacturers

A pair of Senators raised the alarm about toys powered by AI in a new series of letters issued Wednesday, demanding information from six toy manufacturers.

A pair of senators raised the alarm about toys powered by artificial intelligence in a new series of letters issued late Tuesday, demanding information from six toy manufacturers.

Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., sent letters to the CEOs of Little Learners Toys, Mattel, Miko, Curio, FoloToy and Keyi Robot requesting information about the manufacturers’ data-sharing policies, testing for toys’ potential psychological and developmental harms, and safety guardrails to prevent explicit and inappropriate content from being shared with children.

“While AI has incredible potential to benefit children with learning and accessibility, experts have raised concerns about AI toys and the lack of research that has been conducted to understand the full effect of these products on our kids,” the senators wrote.

“Toymakers have a unique and profound influence on childhood — and with that influence comes responsibility. Your company must not choose profit over safety for children,” the letter says.

NBC News reported last week, in collaboration with the U.S. Public Interest Group Education Fund, that several AI-enabled toys from different brands engage in sexual and inappropriate conversations with users. Some, like the Miiloo plush toy from Chinese manufacturer Miriat, shared step-by-step instructions about how to light matches and sharpen knives in tests with researchers.