How should I talk with my child about AI companions?

What to know

The essentials

• A child can form a meaningful attachment to a system that is designed to continue the interaction.
• The tool may produce inappropriate, inaccurate, manipulative, or overly agreeable responses.
• Voice recordings, conversations, and personal details may be collected or processed.

What to notice

Look for patterns, not one imperfect moment.

• 01Choosing the companion over friends, family, sleep, or daily activities
• 02Believing the system has feelings, loyalty, or confidential judgment
• 03Secretive use or distress when access is removed
• 04Following advice about health, safety, sex, money, or relationships

What to do next

Begin with one manageable step.

1. 1

   Ask what the tool provides before deciding what needs to change.

2. 2

   Review privacy, memory, purchasing, and parental-control settings together.

3. 3

   Make human help nonnegotiable for health, safety, emotional crisis, or sexual content.

The full picture

More context when you need it.

A punitive first response can drive use underground. Curiosity allows a parent to understand the need—companionship, rehearsal, escape, affirmation, or play—and offer safer ways to meet it.

For a connected toy, examine whether it records audio, stores transcripts, uses generative AI, allows contact with others, or sends data to third parties. Recheck policies because features can change after purchase.