Amanda Hess, a prominent writer and critic, has recently expressed her concerns regarding the introduction of AI-powered stuffed animals into the market. In a detailed commentary, she recounts her experience with a toy named Grem, which prompted her to reflect on its implications for children. Hess’s revelations raise questions about the appropriateness of such technology in children’s playtime.
It did not come without reservations. Hess writes that she finally permitted her children to have interactions with Grem. So, before gifting the toy, she first opened it up and took out and concealed its voice box. She expressed concern that the AI capabilities might be dangerous for impressionable young minds. After meeting Grem, she reached a decided verdict.
“I would not be introducing Grem to my own children.” – Amanda Hess
In her analysis, Hess describes Grem as “less an upgrade to the lifeless teddy bear.” Her overarching contention is that, deceptively, these toys seem groundbreaking, but they aren’t actually making play better for kids. Instead, they can overshadow more creative, imaginative, open-ended play that we know to be critical to child development.
It’s not only Hess who is skeptical of the toy. She takes on an even bigger issue, that of how technology is harming the development of our children. She notes that “the natural endpoint for [children’s] curiosity lies inside their phones,” suggesting that reliance on technology could lead children away from engaging with the world around them.
As toys with AI capabilities enter the market in droves, parents must grapple with what it means to play with technology today. Hess’s cautionary stance serves as a reminder to consider not only the fun factor of such innovations but their potential long-term effects on children’s cognitive and emotional growth.