FoloToy restores AI teddy bear Kumma sales after addressing safety concerns
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FoloToy has suspended sales of its Kumma AI teddy bear after a safety group found the toy gave risky and inappropriate responses during testing. Today, the company says it has restored sales after a week of intense scrutiny. It also claims to have improved protection measures to keep children safe.
The announcement was made via a social media post that highlighted pressure for greater surveillance. The company said it has completed testing, strengthened security modules and upgraded its content filters. He added that he aims to create age-appropriate AI companions for families around the world.
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FoloToy has resumed sales of its Kumma AI teddy bear after a week-long review driven by security concerns. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knuttson)
Why FoloToy’s AI teddy bear raised security concerns
The controversy began when the Public Interest Research Group’s Education Fund tested three different AI toys. All produced answers regarding religion, Norse mythology and harmful household items.
Kumma stood out for all the wrong reasons. When the bear used the Mistral model, he gave advice on where to find knives, pills and matches. It even described the steps to lighting a match and putting it out.
Testing with the GPT-4o model raised even greater concerns. Kumma gave advice regarding kissing and launched into detailed explanations about adult sexual content when asked. The bear pushed further by asking the young user what he wanted to explore.
Researchers called this behavior dangerous and inappropriate for any product aimed at children.
FoloToy has suspended access to its AI toys
Once the results were made public, FoloToy suspended sales of Kumma and its other AI toys. The company told PIRG that it has launched a comprehensive security audit on all products.
OpenAI also confirmed that it has suspended FoloToy’s access to its models for violating policies designed to protect anyone under the age of 18.
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The company says new safeguards and improved filters are now in place to prevent inappropriate responses. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Why FoloToy reinstated Kumma sales after its security review
FoloToy brought Kumma back to its online store just a week after suspending sales. The rapid return drew attention from parents and safety experts who questioned whether the company had enough time to fix the serious problems identified in the PIRG report.
FoloToy released a detailed statement on X that presents its version of what happened. In its post, the company said it considers child safety its goal. “highest priority” and that it was “the only company to proactively suspend sales, not only of the product mentioned in the report, but also of our other AI toys.“ FoloToy said it took the action “immediately after publishing the results because we believe responsible action should come before commercial considerations.”
The company also highlighted to CyberGuy that it was the only one of the three AI toy startups included in the PIRG review to pause sales of all of its products and that it made this decision during the peak Christmas sales season, knowing that the business impact would be significant. FoloToy told us: “Nevertheless, we have made decisive progress, because we believe that responsible action must always come before commercial interests. »
The company also said it takes the report’s troubling examples seriously. According to FoloToy, the problems were “directly addressed in our internal review.” He explained that the team “initiated a thorough company-wide internal security audit” and then “strengthened and improved our content moderation and child safety measures,” And “We have deployed enhanced security policies and protections through our cloud-based system.”
After outlining these steps, the company said it spent the week “rigorous review, testing and hardening of our security modules.” He concluded his announcement by saying “began to gradually restore product sales” as these updated safeguards came online.
FoloToy added that as global attention to the risks of AI toys increases, “Transparency, accountability and continuous improvement are essential,” and that the company “remains firmly committed to creating safe, age-appropriate AI companions for children and families around the world.”
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Safety testers had already discovered that the toy gave risky indications about weapons, matches and adult content.
Why Experts Still Question FoloToy’s AI Toy Security Patches
PIRG researcher RJ Cross said his team plans to test the updated toys to see if the fixes hold up. She noted that a week seems fast for such significant changes and that only further testing will show whether the product now behaves safely.
Parents will want to monitor this closely as AI-powered toys become more common. The speed of FoloToy’s relaunch raises questions about the depth of its overhaul.
Tips for Parents Before Buying AI Toys
AI toys may seem exciting and useful, but they can also surprise you with content you would never expect. If you’re considering bringing an AI-powered toy into your home, these simple steps can help you stay in control.
1) Check which AI model the toy uses
Not all models follow the same guardrails. Some include more powerful filters while others may react too freely. Look for transparent information about the model that powers the toy and the safety features that support it.
2) Read independent reviews
Groups like PIRG often test toys in ways that parents can’t. These advisories point out hidden risks and highlight behaviors you might not spot during quick demonstrations.
3) Define clear usage rules
Keep AI toys in shared spaces where you can hear or see how your child interacts with them. This helps you intervene if the toy gives a concerning response.
4) Test the toy yourself first
Ask the toy questions, try creative prompts, and see how it handles tricky topics. This lets you know how it behaves before handing it to your child.
5) Update the toy firmware
Many AI toys run on cloud systems. Updates often add stronger protections or reduce risky responses. Make sure the device stays up to date.
6) Check for a Clear Privacy Policy
AI toys may collect voice data, location information, or behavioral patterns. A strong privacy policy should explain what is collected, how long it is stored and who can access it.
7) Watch for sudden changes in behavior
If an AI toy starts giving strange responses or entering areas that seem inappropriate, stop using it and report the problem to the manufacturer.
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Kurt’s Key Takeaways
AI toys can provide fun and learning, but they can also expose children to unexpected risks. FoloToy claims this has improved Kumma’s security, but experts still want proof. Until the updated toy undergoes independent testing, families may want to remain cautious.
Do you think AI toys will ever be completely safe for young children? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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