The New Wild West of AI Kids’ Toys

Event overview

The new Wild West of AI kids’ toys

Updated 4 days ago
Wired
Ars Technica
2 articles2 sources
Summary

These connected companions could disrupt everything from make-believe to bedtime stories. No wonder some lawmakers want them banned. This cluster currently includes 2 articles from 2 sources.

What this means

This cluster currently includes 2 articles from 2 sources. Sources in this event include Ars Technica, Wired.

Original reporting (2)
The New Wild West of AI Kids’ Toys
Wired
Wired
Leaning left
5/8/2026

The New Wild West of AI Kids’ Toys

The main antagonist of Toy Story 5 , in theaters this summer, is a green, frog-shaped kids’ tablet named Lilypad, a genius new villain for the beloved Pixar franchise . But if Pixar had its ear to the ground, it might have used an AI kids’ toy instead. AI toys are seemingly everywhere, marketed online as friendly.

Four plastic anthropomorphic toy dogs are lined up on display at a trade show.
Ars Technica
Ars Technica
Leaning left
5/9/2026

The new Wild West of AI kids’ toys

The main antagonist of Toy Story 5 , in theaters this summer, is a green, frog-shaped kids’ tablet named Lilypad, a genius new villain for the beloved Pixar franchise . But if Pixar had its ear to the ground, it might have used an AI kids’ toy instead. AI toys are seemingly everywhere, marketed online as friendly.