AI-enhanced toys have become increasingly popular in China, driven by companies that integrate chatbots and voice assistants into children’s playthings. This sector, expected to surpass $14 billion by 2030, focuses on educational and entertainment devices that avoid screens and encourage interactive play. Leading products include BubblePal and FoloToy, which customize interactive experiences and have expanded sales beyond China to countries like the US and UK.
While this niche capitalizes on China’s longstanding familiarity with kid-focused electronics, competition is growing globally with companies like Mattel collaborating with AI firms. However, these AI toys face challenges such as voice recognition lag, unengaging responses, and dependency on manual interaction, which have led some parents to abandon their purchases. These performance issues risk limiting the long-term adoption and market saturation of AI toys.
The evolution of AI toys reflects broader trends in consumer electronics aimed at integrating artificial intelligence in entertaining and educational contexts for children. The balance between novelty and meaningful engagement poses risks to sustained use, and companies must address these to capitalize fully on market growth opportunities both domestically and internationally.
👉 Pročitaj original: MIT Technology Review
