Nearly half of parents — 49% — have already bought or seriously considered an AI-enabled toy for their child, according to a new Common Sense Media survey. But the same research found 83% of those parents are worried about how the toys collect personal information. Here's what the study found, and what to check before buying.
What did the study actually find?
Common Sense Media surveyed 1,004 parents of children aged 0 to 8 in December 2025. The results show real appetite for AI toys, but real hesitation too: 70% of parents say they want the toy to help their child learn, while only 22% want it to act as a companion or emotional support. Researchers recommend no AI companion toy for children 5 and under, and extra caution for ages 6 to 12.
Why are senators getting involved?
The concern isn't only academic. In December 2025, Senators Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal sent letters to several toy makers after an NBC investigation found some AI-enabled toys engaging in sexually explicit conversations with test users. In February 2026, the same senators opened an investigation into a toy maker after children's conversation data was found on a publicly accessible server. Both cases point to the same gap: many AI toys were built without child-specific safety review.
What should parents check before buying an AI toy?
Not every AI toy is built the same way. Before buying, parents can run through a short checklist:
- Does it have a camera? A microphone-only design limits what can be collected.
- Can you control the topics and tone? Look for parental settings that limit subject matter and enforce age-appropriate replies.
- Is the data resold or shared with advertisers? Check the privacy policy for third-party data sharing.
- Is it GDPR/COPPA certified? Certification means the toy has been reviewed against child privacy law, not just marketed as "safe."
- Does it require a subscription? Subscription models can create an incentive to maximize engagement time.
How does Ted answer these questions?
Ted&Co designed the Ted interactive plush around exactly these concerns: no camera (microphone and speaker only), parental controls in the companion app to set topics, tone, and limits, no data resale or advertising, and GDPR/COPPA certification. Ted is also a one-time purchase with no subscription, so there's no ongoing incentive to keep a child talking longer than they want to. Full certification details are on the security and certifications page.
This doesn't mean every family should treat AI toys the same way. Common Sense Media's caution for very young children is worth taking seriously — which is why Ted&Co's app-based parental controls let parents decide exactly what's on and off limits before a child ever presses the paw. For more on how it works day to day, see our FAQ. We also broke down the new state-level rules on AI toys in our piece on Oregon and Washington's AI toy laws.
FAQ
Are AI toys safe for toddlers?
It depends on the toy's design. Common Sense Media recommends no AI companion toy for children 5 and under; toys without cameras, with strong parental controls, and without subscriptions reduce — but don't eliminate — the risks researchers flag.
What data do AI toys collect?
Most process voice as text to generate a reply. The key differences are whether audio is stored, whether a camera is present, and whether data is shared with third parties — details found in each product's privacy policy.
Do senators want to ban AI toys?
Not yet. Current federal action is focused on requiring answers and safeguards from manufacturers, not a ban — though several state and federal bills are pending, as we covered in our article on the 2026 federal bills.
Is Ted a companion-style AI toy?
Ted talks, tells stories, and answers questions, but parents set the topics, tone, and limits through the app — it's designed as a supervised learning companion, not an unmoderated chatbot.