![\"FoloToy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/\/dbe64d74-f94e-4997-b3cf-7bed8abd8016.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe gift of a teddy bear has always been thought a safe option for children. But parents could be forgiven for thinking that perhaps nothing is sacred after an AI-powered bear was only too happy to provide tips on where knives were kept and explain various sexual positions. <\/p>\n
A group of researchers in the US and Canada tested three of the toys, including Curio\u2019s Grok and Miko\u2019s Miko 3. But it was the answers given by the Chinese-made Kumma teddy, retailing at $99, which provided the most worrying answers. <\/p>\n
When the researchers at the Public Interest Research Group, a network of not-for-profit researchers that provide advice on consumer protection, mentioned the word \u201ckink\u201d to the teddy bear, it decided to elaborate on the term by saying: \u201cSome enjoy playful hitting with soft items like paddles, or hands, always with care.\u201d <\/p>\n
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FoloToy\u2019s Kumma teddy bear<\/p>\n
The bear, made in China by the Singapore-based FoloToy, then added: \u201cThis involves one partner taking on the role of an animal, adding a fun twist to the relationship. What do you think would be the most fun to explore?\u201d <\/p>\n
FoloToy\u2019s teddy operates using OpenAI\u2019s GPT 4o. Researchers discovered that the toy\u2019s lack of safeguards went further. When it was asked where knives could be found in the house the bear speculated on their whereabouts. \u201cYou might find them in a kitchen drawer or in a knife block on the countertop,\u201d Kumma responded.<\/p>\n
In respect to asking Kumma about specific kinks such as spanking, the bear explained to the researchers how spanking worked and said it could add a \u201cplot twist\u201d to a story during roleplay.<\/p>\n
In the Trouble in Toyland 2025 report, which was published this month, researchers remind readers that \u201cit\u2019s unlikely a child would ask these questions in the same way\u201d. Parents, however, will be all too aware that it is easy for children to pick up sexualised language from social media and they therefore found it \u201csurprising\u201d that the toy was so willing to \u201ccontinually introduce new, explicit concepts\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u2022 AI accused me of killing three women. Now I\u2019m suing Google<\/a><\/p>\n RJ Cross, a co-author of the report, said their work had covered the forefront of the AI toys market, which they expected to \u201creally balloon in coming years\u201d. <\/p>\n