A.I.-powered plushies are marketed as alternatives to screen time for children, but concerns exist about their impact on child development. A demonstration with the chatbot Grem led to doubts about its role as a bonding tool, suggesting it might replace parental interaction instead of enhancing it. While these toys could distract children from screens, they might imply that true curiosity is only explored through devices. In a practical trial, the author allowed her kids to play with Grem, albeit with the voice box hidden to limit its interactive capabilities, showing mixed feelings on the matter.
Hess expresses concerns that A.I.-powered plushies like Grem may not be a suitable alternative to screen time, noting they could be more of a replacement for parental interaction.
Despite their potential to substitute screen time, Hess argues these chatbot toys may inadvertently signal to children that their curiosity is best satisfied through phones.
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