Objective:

To examine the impact of AI-enabled toys on neurodevelopment in young children and raise awareness about associated concerns.

Key Findings:

• AI toys are marketed as educational companions, but their impact on neurodevelopment is largely unstudied.
• Only 7 studies on AI toys were found, all published between 2019 and 2022.
• AI toys struggled with social interactions and pretend play, raising concerns about children's understanding of emotional responses.

Interpretation:

Experts emphasize the need for clearer regulations, transparency, and safety measures for AI toys to protect children's development.

Limitations:

• The research on AI toys is limited and lacks comprehensive long-term studies.
• Concerns about privacy, security, and misinformation in AI toys remain largely unaddressed.

Conclusion:

There is a pressing need for regulation and further research to understand the long-term effects of AI-enabled toys on child development.