In first study of its kind, Cambridge researchers found AI toys could misread some children's emotions.

Researchers are calling for tighter regulation of AI-powered toys designed for toddlers, after conducting one of the first tests in the world to investigate how under-fives interact with the technology.

The study looked at how a small sample of children between the ages of three and five interacted with a cuddly toy called Gabbo.

A number of AI toys are already on the market for children aged as young as three but there is currently very little research into the impact of the tech on pre-schoolers.

The Cambridge University team found just seven relevant studies worldwide, none of which focused on the toddlers themselves.

Gabbo contains a voice-activated AI chatbot from OpenAI. It has been designed to encourage pre-schoolers to talk to it and carry out imaginative play.

Study - https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.126270

  • MrSulu@lemmy.mlEnglish
    11·
    2 days ago

    Or we could simply not buy them for the children.? My daughter has carefully structured access to apps on her tablet and AI is strictly out. She sometimes models that her school friends have access to certain apps. However, she is at an age where she is still a little upset but can understand why we have these controls.

      • MrSulu@lemmy.mlEnglish
        3·
        2 days ago

        I certainly wholeheartedly agree. Please note I’m not the most experienced of parents and I only have one child.

    • IsoKiero@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      3·
      2 days ago

      My now near adult kids have actually understood and been thankful that their childhood was ‘unfairly strict’ on what they could do on their devices. They have friends who have had unmonitored access to anything on their devices and it starts to show badly enough that even their peers notice how short their attention span is and how twisted their view of the world has become.

    • GalacticSushi@piefed.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      7·
      2 days ago

      You’re absolutely right! Without your parents, nobody is feeding or nurturing you! I’ll admit, this was a big miscalculation on my end. I dropped the ball and will make sure it doesn’t happen in the future. Would you like me to help you research foster programs or give you tips on how to survive as a homeless youth?

    • Bluefruit@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      1 day ago

      Man I fucking love the wiki bear skit. So good.

      “Imagine trying to breath but instead of air, your lungs feel with sweet molasses, yum yum!”

  • ObtuseDoorFrame@lemmy.zipEnglish
    3·
    2 days ago

    They named it Gabbo? That’s a Simpson’s reference. Most of the parents who would consider buying this are old enough to remember that episode.

  • Zedstrian@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    3·
    2 days ago

    Generative AI products in general need to be better regulated. With more and more consumers trusting the output of LLMs, companies can use them to collect more consumer data than ever before and infuse marketing and propaganda into LLM outputs with no distinction, to the detriment of the genuine sources of information upon which they depend.

  • Teknikal@anarchist.nexusEnglish
    4·
    2 days ago

    My opinion is if you would have to be crazy to buy any of your kids an AI anything, I wouldn’t be suprised if it told kids to drink bleach or something.