AI Toys

By Karen Schumacher

By its own admission the World Economic Forum (WEF) is conceding that AI (artificial intelligence) in toys can be dangerous, not necessarily safe for children, and the shocker, AI decisions can be wrong.

As if anyone would trust what the WEF recommends, it has created a rather useless guideline on AI toys and what parents should scrutinize where most of the advice is to visit the product website.

The WEF states AI products use sensors and inputs to collect information about whoever uses them.

This information includes images, videos, patterns of use and other data. AI products then “use algorithms to interpret the information and make predictions for their users.  Also admitted is that AI products also have risks…These risks carry even more weight when users are children who may or may not be ready to make decisions about their digital rights…  What?  Does anyone even understandwhat digital rights are?  Oh, just another made up WEF scam.

Then you have the industries making AI toys claiming to protect privacy, the best toys being tested byexperts.  Does Fauci come to mind?  This video demonstration doesn’t look particularly entertaining fora toy.  After getting over the novelty of it, it is likely most kids will become bored and want to move on.

Although, it does look like something a dog or cat would love to chase and destroy, well, except the dog in the video who is probably just a wussy dog, not a Rin Tin Tin.  Just imagine how much data this ball of rot collected.  It isn’t really clear what is done with that data other than it might possibly be sold, used to communicate with your child, or shared.

There are also AI toys that claim to educate children and that adults will enjoy.  Good to know data will also be collected on the parent.  But the real goal is training kids for a digital workforce world that we are all being forced into.

Much is lost with these toys.  Social interaction between children is the biggest loss.  Losing gracefully or being a humble winner, following rules, listening to a coach or referee, or learning skills from other players are just a few.  Other toys stimulate creativity and imagination or teach negotiating skills if played with more than one.  A simple game of jacks, marbles, or cards can challenge a child to be strategic or work in partnership while often developing hand eye coordination.  Playing these types of games often encourages trying again.  Oh, these are now all fuddy-duddy games as compared to BB-8.  It seems with these AI toys it is mostly telling an object what to do and then watching it respond.  How fun is that?  Not to worry, there are also AI toys that will be your child emotional companion that can be their friend.

Naturally, these can be bought through your local Idaho WEF partnered Walmart store or Amazon.

It might not be too late to take that toy back for a refund.