The Digester

A Cambridge study of three to five year olds found an AI chatbot toy misheard children and gave awkward responses, prompting calls for tighter regulation and parental supervision.

Cambridge researchers ran one of the first studies of under fives playing with an AI chatbot toy called Gabbo.
Children often struggled to converse with the toy, which talked over them and could not distinguish child from adult voices.
Gabbo sometimes responded inappropriately to emotions and declarations of affection, which could confuse young children's social learning.
Researchers and the Children's Commissioner are calling for regulation and standards to ensure psychological safety for under fives.
Parents are advised to supervise AI toys in shared spaces and to read privacy and safety information before use.

Study warns AI toys for toddlers need stricter rules

Articles