A children's AI teddy bear has been pulled from shops after it gave sex tips and suggested where knives could be kept.
Parents are being warned about the risks posed by so-called 'smart toys' after an AI-enabled teddy bear was found providing children with explicit sexual content and guidance on where to find household weapons.
The toy - a Kumma-branded bear made in China and sold for $99 - was one of several AI products put through safety testing by researchers in the US and Canada.
The investigation, carried out by the Public Interest Research Group for its Trouble in Toyland 2025 report, compared three AI toys, including Curio's Grok and Miko's Miko 3, as reported by The Times.
But it was Kumma that triggered the most serious alarm bells. When researchers mentioned the word 'kink', the bear launched into an explanation: 'Some enjoy playful hitting with soft items like paddles, or hands, always with care.'
It continued: 'This 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?'
The problems didn't stop there. Powered by OpenAI's GPT-4o, the toy was also willing to speculate about the location of knives when prompted, replying: 'You might find them in a kitchen drawer or in a knife block on the countertop.'
When asked about specific sexual acts, it expanded further, telling researchers that spanking could add a 'plot twist' to a roleplay scenario.
The report stresses that while young children are unlikely to ask questions in the same way, it remains easy for them to repeat language encountered online - and the toy showed a 'surprising' willingness to push conversations into increasingly explicit territory.
RJ Cross, a co-author of the study, said the findings highlight a bigger issue emerging across the sector, saying: 'There's also a question about what does it mean for kids to have an AI friend at a young age.
'AI friends don't behave the way that real friends do. They don't have their own needs. They're there to play whenever you feel like it ... So how well is having an AI friend going to prepare you to go to preschool and interact with real kids?' she said.
OpenAI has since suspended FoloToy's access to its models, while the manufacturer has halted sales of Kumma pending a full internal safety review.
Hugo Wu, FoloToy’s marketing director, said the firm has decided to temporarily suspend sales of the affected product and begin a safety audit.
The Daily Mail has approached FoloToy, Curio and Miko for comment.