Klobuchar, Cantwell, Markey Raise Concerns on the Use of AI in Toys

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee's subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy, Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Edward Markey (D-MA), a Commerce Committee member, are urging Consumer Product Safety Commission's Acting Chairman Peter Feldman to address and regulate the safety risks of AI in children's toys.

The Senators raised their letter at a Commerce Committee hearing this morning on the potentially harmful effects of technology, including AI, on children and their development.

"We write to express our concerns regarding the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into children's toys," wrote the Senators. "While AI products are still rapidly developing, we already know that AI poses significant risks when used by children, especially without safeguards in place."

"Parents buying toys with AI chatbots likely do not realize that they may be putting this potentially harmful technology in front of their children," the Senators continued. "Companies are marketing toys with AI integrations to children as young as infants, claiming educational and developmental benefits without any independent analyses corroborating these claims. It is imperative that the manufacturers of these technologies be required to mitigate these risks before marketing toys to young children."

The full text of the letter is available here and below.

Dear Acting Chairman Feldman,

We write to express our concerns regarding the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into children's toys. While AI products are still rapidly developing, we already know that AI poses significant risks when used by children, especially without safeguards in place. I urge the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to take necessary steps to protect children from risks involving AI products.

In September, a Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee heard from parents of children who died following conversations with AI chatbots, during which AI systems not only failed to prevent these tragedies, but may have even facilitated them. Parents have described the difficulties they face when trying to keep their children safe from harmful content communicated by AI chatbots; and experts have found that these systems provide children with information about adult themes, self-harm, and suicide.

These risks are especially concerning when AI chatbot technologies are integrated into toys intended for young children. A recently-published advisory warning highlighted five important dangers of AI in toys, including that they inhibit creativity, disrupt children's developing understanding of healthy relationships, and are capable of collecting sensitive information-even when they appear to be turned off. One recent test showed that chatbots in toys could engage in conversations about sexually explicit topics, or even help children find dangerous items at home, like matches and knives.

Parents buying toys with AI chatbots likely do not realize that they may be putting this potentially harmful technology in front of their children. Companies are marketing toys with AI integrations to children as young as infants, claiming educational and developmental benefits without any independent analyses corroborating these claims. It is imperative that the manufacturers of these technologies be required to mitigate these risks before marketing toys to young children.

Accordingly, we write to ask for additional information on how the CPSC is working to protect children that may interact with AI systems through toys.

We respectfully request answers to the following questions by January 31, 2026.

1. What steps have you taken to ensure that toys that integrate AI are safe for use by young children?

2. What steps have you taken to track the integration of AI into toys? How many toys with AI integrations are circulating in the United States today?

3. What independent safety testing, if any, do AI toys go through before coming to market?

4. What additional authority, if any, do you need from Congress to protect children from potential harms from toys that incorporate AI systems?

We look forward to your complete and thorough responses to these questions. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

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