When AI Goes to the Nursery: Why Are Scientists Concerned?

In June of 2025, Open AI partnered with Mattel to bring AI toys into the marketplace. By November, AI toys called “social companions” flooded the market for young children, promising love, friendship and learning opportunities. Here we explore how core properties of development like human-to-human contingent interactions might be at risk in an environment of non-human simulated interactions. The risks and benefits of AI are better understood by separately discussing social companion products and products designed to complement learning.