Why would a child’s toy discuss ‘kink’ with a 10 year old? Why would a teddy bear explain to a child how to find and use matches? Is it safe for a robot companion designed for kids to beg the child not to leave it alone? Why are we giving our children AI emotional companions to begin with? How could this affect their development?
These questions and more come from PIRG's annual ’Trouble in Toyland' holiday toy review, and in this episode, we explore these wild findings with full-time consumer advocate and some-time AI toy tester R.J. Cross, and our panel of experts.
Featuring:
- Ian Gold, PhD (Professor and Chair of Philosophy and Professor of Psychiatry, McGill and co-author of Suspicious Minds)
- Nate Sharadin (Professor of Philosophy, University of Hong Kong / Research Affiliate, Center for AI Safety)
- Dr. Todd Essig (Psychologist and Chair of the American Psychoanalytic Association Commission on Artificial Intelligence)
- Kate Vredenburgh (Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy, Logic, and Scientific Method at the London School of Economics)
- And a bunch of AI Toys!
Notes:
Here’s the AI Friends knockoff we mentioned: https://cursedsit.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
If the stream is down, you can see clips of a guy watching their Halloween special here: https://youtu.be/z1to-BFcxyo?si=pnFHXxbj-HjK84bJ
Most importantly, here's the 'Trouble in Toyland' Report: https://pirg.org/edfund/resources/trouble-in-toyland-2025-a-i-bots-and-toxics-represent-hidden-dangers/
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated on all things Suspicious Minds and more: https://agoricmedia.substack.com/
This project was made by:
Executive Producers: Mandy Teefey, Selena Gomez, Jonathon Glucksman, Molly Borman, Jesse Ford, David Tuohy
Sound and Camera: Aaron Bouchard
Additional Sound and Camera: Archetype Studios, Jas Pahuta
Editor: Joe Kell
Assistant Editor: David Justin Martin
Post Production Sound: Garrett Shultz
Graphic Design and Animation: Semi:Formal
Title Design: Lucas Grassmay
Film/TV PR: Emma Griffiths PR
Podcast PR: Tink Media (Wil Williams and Shreya Sharma)
Wondermind Chief of Staff: Emma Wright
Social Assets: Myrkia Maguire
Directed and Created by Sean King O’Grady
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