Will your toddlers spend more time with AI next year than you?

And will it necessarily be a bad thing?

So this video (and more generally this AI-powered toy by Curio) flooded our feed this week. It seemed reasonably priced given the early adopters it might attract.

While I’m likely not buying this one in particular, it made realize (especially as sophisticated models are able to run on even simpler hardware), just how powerful they could be on toys. Toy manufacturers have been able to add a significant markup even for dolls that said three pre-canned phrases - imagine the experiences they could create for kids with this tech. The race will start - if it hasn’t already - at every toy company worth it’s salt.

Imagine a plushie that your child sleeps that isn’t just incredibly entertaining, but that would know when to comfort them - and be better and more patient that you. It would know when to inspire them to learn - and be able to teach them everything from math to helping them to read and let you as the parent know what your child needs next.

We’ve been so eager and willing to anthropomorphize AI chatbots, but the most willing amongst us are probably the kids that anthropomorphize and talk to dolls and plushies already - they’re just waiting for them to talk back.

Obviously, the safety considerations on so, so many dimensions will mean people will hopefully approach this carefully, but there’s no doubt at least in my mind, that the opportunity both for existing IP holders (hey there, Disney :-)) and new toy companies that will emerge is immense.

What do you think? Will AI in toys make you a more effective parent or open another vector that makes modern parenting harder?

Oh, I’m trying out Intro. If it’s interesting check it out.