'The Trojan Teddy Bear': The promise and peril of childhood in the age of AI
AI is being embedded in toys, dolls, and robots designed to form relationships with children. A child-development expert sees potential benefits but warns these products may displace the human connection children rely on to develop.
Why this matters: Children are not small adults. They form attachments differently, and they cannot meaningfully evaluate what they are bonding with. A toy that talks back, remembers preferences, and acts like a friend is not neutral. It is a data-collecting device wrapped in something your kid loves. The design incentive is engagement, not healthy development. Parents should know who made the AI inside the toy, what it learns, where that data goes, and whether anyone is actually accountable if the relationship goes wrong.
Who should care: General readers · AI governance · Policy
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