As parents look for gifts that will wow their children this holiday season, Canadian child development and psychology experts say they should be wary of gifts. based on artificial intelligence toys due to potential harms ranging from violations of privacy and safety to interference with children's creativity and development.
“Early childhood is a time when the developing brain is like a little sponge. It absorbs everything and is very malleable,” says Dr. Nicole Racine, a child psychologist and scientist at Ottawa's CHEO Research Institute.
“I think about what input do I want my kids to receive? And frankly, it's not input to an artificial intelligence algorithm,” said Racine, who also has two young children.
Her comments follow guidelines for parents published last week by Fairplay, a US organization that aims to protect children from potential harm caused by technology. It has the support of dozens of experts, including children's rights groups, pediatricians, educators and psychologists.
The guidelines define AI toys as “chatbots built into everyday children's toys, such as plush toys, dolls, action figures, or children's robots, and using artificial intelligence technology designed to communicate like a trusted friend and mimic human characteristics and emotions.”
The artificial intelligence component is usually advertised prominently, so it's not hard for parents to notice, Rachel Franz, director of Fairplay's Little Children Thrive Offline Program, said in an interview. Another element to pay attention to is checking whether the toy needs to be connected to Wi-Fi, she said.
The toys are cute and are positioned as educational and interactive aids that stimulate children's creativity. However, child development experts warn that the opposite may also be true.
They can limit a child's imagination because with a regular toy, the child is on both sides of the conversation, Fairplay says.
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In addition, AI chatbots tend to agree with the user, eliminating experience in conflict resolution and relationship building, experts say.
“How will this kid (learn to) deal with differences? “Oh, I want to play like that. No, but I want to play like this.’ It’s an important and fundamental function of childhood,” said psychiatrist Dr. Daniela Lobo, medical director of problem gambling and technology services at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto.
Lobo praised Fairplay's recommendations, noting that artificial intelligence development is far ahead of security research and is “unregulated.”
“We need to start thinking, 'OK, is there evidence of safety that allows us to use this in children?' Children's brains develop very quickly, right? So what are we exposing our children to?”
Fairplay lists several examples, including Curio Interactive's characters Gabbo, Graham and Grok—wide-eyed plush toys featuring a robot, alien, and rocket ship that kids can ask questions and talk to—and Roybie the robot, which can teach kids languages, math, and science.
In emailed statements, Curio Interactive and Roybi said they take children's safety and data protection very seriously and comply with the U.S. Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
“We do not record or store any sensitive data. We never record audio or video. Each child's profile is created as an anonymous identifier with no identifiable personal information attached,” Royby said.
“Our learning content is developed and approved by certified teachers. It is structured rather than open-ended to ensure the highest ethical use of AI and provide children with a safe and guided learning experience.”
Their statements also emphasized that parents and guardians can monitor their children's use of artificial intelligence.
“We encourage parents to follow conversations, track information, and choose the controls that work best for their family in the Curio: Interactive Toys app,” Curio said.
But Racine said that's not necessarily realistic for parents.
“I think we can say this is a toy that you should use with your child or sit with them and do it,” she said.
“The problem is how it actually happens at home and what actually happens.”
While the Canadian Pediatric Society does not have an official position on AI toys, it said pediatricians are already seeing “increased rates of developmental delays, speech and social-emotional disabilities in young children.”
“There is concern that artificially intelligent toys, especially in very small hands, may exacerbate this trend by confusing a child's early understanding of positive relationships,” the society said in a statement emailed to The Canadian Press.
Fairplay's guidelines also warn parents that AI toys could “invade family life by collecting a lot of sensitive data.”
“(Children) often entrust their favorite toys, giving toy manufacturers and third parties access to intimate and personal details, including the child’s deeply personal thoughts, emotions, fears and desires,” it says.
Franz said that in the absence of adequate regulation, it's unfair to put the onus on parents to figure out how much privacy they might be compromising.
“Getting through a privacy policy is extremely difficult for the average family,” she said.
Elizabeth Cowley, chief clinical officer of PlaySpace, an online platform that allows therapists to use games in their sessions with children, said she thinks of AI toys in the same way as smartphones and the Internet.
“Children shouldn't just have open access to something that is unregulated and has very few safeguards,” she said.
Cawley said that with the right rules and parental supervision, AI could be beneficial for learning and make the game more accessible for some children, but having a responsible adult “in the know” is critical.
PlaySpace has its own AI-powered storybook creation system that allows therapists to create customized content for their young patients, but it is always vetted by a licensed clinician, she said.
In an emailed statement, the Canadian Toy Association urged parents and guardians to “purchase toys only from reputable toy manufacturers, brands and retailers who put children's safety first.”
The office of Evan Solomon, the federal minister of artificial intelligence and digital innovation, said in a statement that it is “monitoring how AI is being integrated into consumer products, including those aimed at children.”
“We acknowledge the concerns raised by experts,” said spokeswoman Sophia Owslis, noting that “Health Canada is responsible for the safety of consumer products, including toys.”
The Canadian Press reached out to Health Canada for comment but was unable to respond before deadline.
