California State Senator Steve Padilla has introduced legislation proposing a four-year ban on AI chatbots in children's toys, citing concerns over safety, privacy and the risk of harmful interactions. The 59-year-old lawmaker said rapid advances in artificial intelligence have outpaced the rules designed to protect young users.
The move aims to give regulators, parents and developers time to better understand how AI-driven toys affect children, including those under 18 years old. Padilla stressed that products designed for play should not expose minors to untested technology or unchecked data collection.
