Mattel’s Open AI Collaboration Is Dangerous for Children
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Children’s toy company Mattel recently announced it will partner with Open AI to support “AI-powered products and experiences” for Mattel’s brands.
Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen, reacted to the news:
“Mattel should announce immediately that it will not incorporate AI technology into children’s toys. Children do not have the cognitive capacity to distinguish fully between reality and play.
“Endowing toys with human-seeming voices that are able to engage in human-like conversations risks inflicting real damage on children. It may undermine social development, interfere with children’s ability to form peer relationships, pull children away from playtime with peers, and possibly inflict long-term harm.
“Mattel should not leverage its trust with parents to conduct a reckless social experiment on our children by selling toys that incorporate AI.”