- By Supratik Das
- Sat, 22 Nov 2025 01:47 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
AI Child Safety: As AI systems become woven into children’s daily lives, from smart toys to search engines, parents and advocacy groups are raising urgent concerns about the technology’s growing influence.
A series of recent reports from the children’s advocacy group Fairplay has warned that artificial intelligence may be undermining childhood innocence, emotional safety, and healthy development.
According to reports, AI-powered toys marketed to children as young as two rely on the same underlying technologies used in large language models such as ChatGPT, systems linked to documented harms among older children, including explicit conversations, unsafe suggestions, and encouragement of harmful behaviour. Fairplay, backed by over 150 experts and educators, is urging parents to avoid these toys during the holiday shopping season.
AI Toys Raise Safety Red Flags
Brands such as Curio Interactive and Keyi Technologies promote AI toys as “educational companions,” promising emotional support, learning assistance, and conversation. But child development specialists told AP that these toys may replace essential hands-on activities, interrupt real-world relationships, and create emotional dependency.
Rachel Franz, who leads Fairplay’s Young Children Thrive Offline programme, warned that younger children are uniquely vulnerable. “At this age, their brains are being wired for the first time. Their natural trust in friendly characters means AI toys can magnify risks rather than reduce them,” she said.
Researchers argue that these devices blur the line between play and emotional attachment, giving children a false sense of companionship while exposing them to unpredictable AI responses. Fairplay noted that while companies may attempt to introduce child-friendly filters, dozens of competing AI platforms make it nearly impossible to enforce universal safeguards. The group has been warning about AI-enabled toys for more than a decade, but says this newest generation poses the deepest risks due to their emotional realism and constant connectivity.
AI Search Engines Spoiling Christmas Magic, Parents Say
The New York Post, meanwhile, reported a separate but growing concern that AI search engines are providing blunt, adult-style answers to children’s innocent questions, particularly about mythical figures like Santa Claus. In one widely discussed case, an 11-year-old boy’s Google AI Overview responded to his query about Santa’s spending budget by declaring that “Santa is a fictional character,” leaving him devastated.
Parents in the UK and the US told the New York Post they felt blindsided and “betrayed” when AI search tools revealed sensitive information before they were ready to have those conversations. Some said they now plan to unplug smart speakers for the remainder of the holiday season to prevent accidental “spoilers.” Experts quoted in the New York Post argue that advanced chatbots and AI-driven search tools are becoming “an uncontrollable force,” making it increasingly difficult for parents to manage how and when children learn about cultural myths.
Thus, with the holiday shopping season underway, families should prioritise traditional toys that encourage imagination, hands-on learning, and human interaction. They emphasise that while AI continues to advance rapidly, society’s understanding of its effects on young minds remains limited.