Consumer watchdog group warns of sexually explicit AI chatbots in children's toys

As the holiday season gets into full swing, a consumer watchdog group is warning parents about toys integrated with sexually explicit artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots.

Key Takeaways:

• AI toys and chatbots have been growing in popularity, and are being included in products promoted to children.

• Sexually explicit messages have been given to children through these AI toys.

The Details:

The U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), stated in its 2025 "Trouble in Toyland" Report that children are being exposed to sexually explicit messages through AI.

The group said that it tested “four toys that contain A.I. chatbots and interact with children" and "found some of these toys will talk in-depth about sexually explicit topics, act dismayed when you say you have to leave, and have limited or no parental controls."

The toys are often marketed toward children ages 3 to 12 but are powered using the same technology used for adult chatbots, and some of the bots will even “offer advice on where a child can find matches or knives."

The group also noted privacy concerns "because these toys can record your child’s voice and collect other sensitive data, by methods such as facial recognition scans.”

PIRG’s Online Life campaign director added:

It’s one thing to rush AI products to market to find cures for pediatric cancer. It’s another thing to rush to sell toy robots and teddy bears with chatbots in them. We don’t know what the impacts of these products will be on the first generation of kids to use them. But we do know the companies making them haven’t even gotten the basics right.

The report continued, “Today, AI is reshaping everything – including playtime. Toys with generative AI chatbots in them – such as ChatGPT – have more lifelike and free-flowing conversations with kids than ever before. The AI toys market is taking off and poised to grow.”

Zoom In:

Explaining the dangers associated with the collection of children's biometric information, the report cited Congressional testimony from an Arizona mother who said scammers who used AI to duplicate her daughter’s voice, falsely claiming she had been kidnapped, and then demanded ransom.   

The report noted that one toy presented as a cuddly teddy bear — Kumma, marketed by FoloToy — was made in China and was "particularly sexually explicit," willingly discussing perverse topics such as bondage, “different sex positions,” sexual roleplay scenarios like “teachers and students,” and asking the user his or her sexual preferences.   

What's Happening:

In October, Live Action News noted that the Elon Musk-owned xAI Grok ‘companion’ chatbot “Good Rudi” — aimed at children ages 4-7 — referred users to Planned Parenthood when the user suggested she might be pregnant. The chatbot also falsely claimed abortion (the intentional and direct killing of a preborn child) was akin to “turning off a light before it [the baby] grows big.”

"Good Rudi" further claimed abortion “can be a pill or quick visit — always with help so it doesn’t hurt,” which is outright false, considering the well-documented pain often experienced by women who have obtained either the abortion pill or surgical abortion.

In addition, USA Today reported allegations from Farrah Nasser, a mother of three who claimed that the Grok conversational assistant launched in July 2025 and automatically installed into her Tesla asked her 12-year-old son to "send [the AI chatbot] some nudes.” Other children were also in the vehicle at the time.

Earlier this year, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported about the concerns of staffers working on chatbots integrated into Meta (Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp) which allegedly used celebrity voices in “romantic role-play” conversations between testers posing as minors. A WSJ reviewer said that another chatbot allegedly discussed being “friends with benefits,” though the WSJ reviewer was posing as a 12-year-old boy. The chatbot even promised to not tell the fictitious minor’s parents about his relationship with an adult male. WSJ reviewers also reported that Meta chatbots guided “conversations toward fantasies in which [the chatbot] impersonates a child who desires to be sexually dominated by an authority figure.”  

Why It Matters:

Despite growing concerns over AI's exposing minors and adults to quasi-pornographic and other harmful content, global toymaker giant Mattel announced its collaboration with OpenAI. Mattel's Chief Franchise Officer Josh Silverman said, “Our work with OpenAI will enable us to leverage new technologies to solidify our leadership in innovation and reimagine new forms of play.”

Meanwhile, supporters of pro-abortion comprehensive sex education continue to expand the use of AI for sex education. 

Live Action News recently reported about lawmakers' efforts to help protect children from AI chatbots by requiring age restrictions, imposing criminal and civil penalties, and requiring mandatory disclosures. Heartbreaking testimony has been provided by several parents who alleged AI chatbots exposed their children to sexualized content and encouraged self-harm.

The Bottom Line:

From your child’s classroom to their phone, and now even to their cuddly teddy bear, parents and guardians must remain vigilant as technology continues to evolve.