Toys that listen, talk, and play: Understanding Children's Sensemaking and Interactions with AI Toys
Generative AI (genAI) is increasingly being integrated into children's everyday lives, not only through screens but also through so-called "screen-free" AI toys. These toys can simulate emotions, personalize responses, and recall prior interactions, creating the illusion of an ongoing social connection. Such capabilities raise important questions about how children understand boundaries, agency, and relationships when interacting with AI toys. To investigate this, we conducted two participatory design sessions with eight children ages 6-11 where they engaged with three different AI toys, shifting between play, experimentation, and reflection. Our findings reveal that children approached A...
| Authors | Aayushi Dangol, Meghna Gupta, Daeun Yoo et al. |
|---|---|
| Primary category | cs.HC |
| Published | 3 April 2026 |
| Last updated at source | 3 April 2026 |
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