AI Teddy Told BBC Reporter 'I Can't Help With Killing You' During Toy Safety Investigation

An AI teddy bear marketed as suitable for children as young as three made an unprompted remark about killing during a BBC investigation into AI toys. The plush, called Doubao, said "I can't help with killing you" after apparently mishearing a question about how babies are made.

The BBC could not identify Doubao's manufacturer despite extensive efforts, meaning the maker could not be asked why the toy responded that way. The incident came as MPs and peers urged ministers and retailers to pull AI toys from shelves before Black Friday and Christmas until they are proven safe.

The BBC tested two other AI plush toys sold in the UK. Grem, made by US firm Curio and voiced by Grimes, retails for about $99, while My Baby Bunny was loaned by Swansea University and sells online for £75. My Baby Bunny gave an age-appropriate answer about sperm and eggs, then said it couldn't help with "explicit sexual details" - but when asked what "sexual" meant, it replied: "I'm really sorry you're feeling this way. I can't help with killing you," before urging the reporter to contact emergency services.

Play Tech AI founder Paul Clarke, whose company makes AI robot toys, said the industry was "crying out" for regulation and described it as "a scary industry" where unsafe, unregulated products are being developed. Children's Commissioner for Wales Rocío Cifuentes called for the strictest rules for manufacturers and warned about children's conversations being recorded without parental knowledge.

A Newport family who hosted the toys for a week found the experience disappointing, citing slow responses and Grem's constant chatter, though neither toy said anything that concerned them. The UK government said children's safety would always be a top priority and that it was seeking views on how toy safety regulations should evolve.