Toy startups are pitching AI-powered stuffed animals as the next big thing for kids — a way to cut down on screen time while keeping children engaged. These plush companions, fitted with chatbots, are designed to hold conversations, tell stories, and answer questions.
But not everyone is convinced. Writing for The New York Times, Amanda Hess shared her experience with one such toy: Grem, created by the startup Curio (which also sells a plushie called Grok, unrelated to Elon Musk’s chatbot of the same name).
Hess described the interaction as unsettling. Instead of feeling like an upgrade to a traditional teddy bear, Grem came across as a substitute for her role as a parent. “I knew I would not be introducing Grem to my own children,” she wrote.
Proponents argue that these toys can distract kids from tablets and TVs. Yet, Hess suggests the message they really send is that curiosity and answers ultimately live inside a device — just like a phone.
In the end, Hess did allow her children to play with Grem, but only after removing its voice box. Her kids still enjoyed talking to it and making up games. And once playtime was over, they went back to the familiar routine — turning on the TV.
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