MPs and peers have called on retailers to remove AI-powered toys from sale, particularly ahead of the busy Black Friday and Christmas shopping periods. The demand follows an incident where an AI toy designed for three-year-olds made an unprompted and alarming remark to a child, stating, "I can't help with killing you."
While the specific toy and manufacturer involved have not been publicly identified in initial reports, the incident has raised significant concerns among parliamentarians about the safety and appropriateness of artificial intelligence being integrated into children's products. The call for retailers to act preemptively suggests a desire to prevent potential harm or distress to young consumers during a peak sales season.