But Chinese AI toy companies have their sights set beyond the country’s borders. BubblePal launched in the US in December 2024 and is now also available in Canada and the UK. And FoloToy is now sold in more than 10 countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Brazil, Germany and Thailand. Rui Ma, China technology analyst at AlphaWatch.AI, says AI devices for children make particular sense in China, where there is already a well-established market for educational electronics aimed at children, a market that does not exist to the same extent globally. FoloToy CEO Kong Miaomiao told Chinese outlet Baijing Chuhai that outside of China, his company is still “reaching out to early adopters who are curious about AI.”
The rise of AI toys in China builds on decades of consumer electronics designed specifically for children. As early as the 1990s, companies like BBK popularized devices like electronic dictionaries and “study machines,” marketed to parents as educational aids. These toy-electronic hybrids read aloud, tell interactive stories, and role-play as a playmate.
However, competition is intensifying: American companies have also begun developing and selling toys with artificial intelligence. Musician Grimes helped create Grok, a stuffed animal that chats with children and adapts to their personality. Toy giant Mattel is working with OpenAI to bring conversational AI to brands like Barbie and Hot Wheels, with the first products expected to be announced later this year.
However, the opinions of parents who bought AI toys in China are mixed. Although many appreciate the fact that they are screenless and come with strict parental controls, some parents say their artificial intelligence capabilities can be flawed, causing children to tire easily.
Beijing resident Penny Huang bought a BubblePal for her five-year-old daughter, who is mainly cared for by her grandparents. Huang hoped the toy could make her less lonely and reduce her constant requests to play with adults’ smartphones. But the novelty quickly wore off.
“The answers are too long and wordy. My daughter loses patience quickly,” says Huang, “it’s [the role-play] It doesn’t feel immersive, just a voice that sometimes sounds out of place.”
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