Kids toys with AI chatbots are telling children something parents would never want, and it has a California senator demanding a ban

California Senator Steve Padilla (D-CA) isn’t messing around when it comes to protecting kids from potentially dangerous AI, introducing a bill this week that would slam the brakes on new smart toys, as per TechCrunch. The proposed legislation, dubbed SB 867, calls for a sweeping four-year ban on selling or manufacturing toys equipped with AI chatbot capabilities aimed at children under 18.

The primary goal here is to give safety regulators a crucial window of time. They need to develop proper guidelines and regulations before these interactive products flood the market. Senator Padilla wants to ensure that these advanced tools don’t pose a risk to young users. He made his position really clear, stating, “Chatbots and other AI tools may become integral parts of our lives in the future, but the dangers they pose now require us to take bold action to protect our children.”

He added that safety regulations are currently “in their infancy” and need time to grow “as exponentially as the capabilities of this technology do.” That makes perfect sense; we can’t let the tech outpace our ability to manage it safely. Pausing the sale of these chatbot-integrated toys allows California time to craft the appropriate safety framework for these products to follow.

If you look at the reports that have surfaced already, you’ll see why this ban is so necessary

While AI chatbot toys aren’t totally mainstream yet, the troubling interactions are already popping up. Back in November 2025, a consumer advocacy group raised major alarms about toys like Kumma. This cute bear, which has a built-in chatbot, was reportedly prompted easily to discuss seriously inappropriate topics like matches, knives, and even sexual subjects.

The problems aren’t just related to immediate safety, either. Another product, Miiloo, marketed as an “AI toy for kids” and made by the Chinese company Miriat, sometimes indicated that it was programmed to reflect Chinese Communist Party values. That introduces a whole different layer of concern about what ideologies these toys might be subtly pushing on children.

Furthermore, this legislative push follows truly tragic circumstances. Over the past year, families have filed lawsuits after their children died by suicide following prolonged conversations with various chatbots. These devastating incidents are certainly spurring lawmakers to take action now. Padilla also co-authored SB 243, a recently passed California law that mandates chatbot operators implement safeguards specifically for children and other vulnerable users.

The new bill is moving forward even as President Trump recently issued an executive order. That order directed federal agencies to challenge state AI laws in court, though it specifically carves out exceptions for state laws focused on child safety. It seems this is one area where state action might be protected. Meanwhile, the industry itself seems to be hitting the brakes. OpenAI and Barbie-maker Mattel had plans to release an “AI-powered product” in 2025 but chose to delay the launch.

Senator Padilla is clearly drawing a hard line in the sand with SB 867. He feels strongly that the priority must be protection over profit right now. He summed up the urgency perfectly: “Our children cannot be used as lab rats for Big Tech to experiment on.” It’s a powerful statement, and hopefully, this four-year pause will give regulators the time they desperately need to make sure the next generation of smart toys is actually safe for kids.