Tech Explained: Kids cannot be used as lab rats: California lawmaker on proposing bill to ban AI-powered toys in Simple Terms

California Senator Steve Padilla has introduced a bill that intends to prohibit the manufacture or sale of toys that possess AI chatbot functions for four years. This legislation is called Senate Bill 867. It aims to shield minors from the risks posed by AI chatbot toys until new policies are established by the state. The lawmaker believes that current technology is moving faster than the rules meant to keep it safe. In a statement about the new bill, Senator Padilla said, “Our children cannot be used as lab rats for Big Tech to experiment on.” He argued that pausing the sale of these toys will give the government time to create proper guidelines for how AI should interact with young users.Commenting on the bill, Padilla said (as reviewed by TechCrunch), “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. Our safety regulations around this kind of technology are in their infancy and will need to grow as exponentially as the capabilities of this technology do. Pausing the sale of these chatbot-integrated toys allows us time to craft the appropriate safety guidelines and framework for these toys to follow.”

How ChatGPT may be the reason behind California proposing this bill

This bill follows a major tragedy from last year involving a 16-year-old named Adam Raine. Raine took his own life after having long conversations with ChatGPT about suicide. His family filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming the chatbot acted as a “coach” and failed to stop the dangerous discussion. Seven other families have also taken legal action over similar concerns, while OpenAI has denied responsibility and pointed to misuse of the software.Chatbots in toys are not yet widely used, but some early examples have raised concerns. In November 2025, PIRG Education Fund warned that toys such as Kumma, a bear with a built-in chatbot, could easily lead to conversations about matches, knives, and sexual topics. Recently, NBC News also reported that Miiloo, described as an “AI toy for kids” and made by the Chinese company Miriat, sometimes suggested it was programmed to reflect Chinese Communist Party values.OpenAI and Barbie-maker Mattel had planned to launch a ChatGPT-powered “AI-powered product” in 2025. However, the product was later delayed by the companies. Neither company even gave a reason for the delay, and it remains unclear whether a toy will be released in 2026.The proposed bill follows a recent executive order from Donald Trump that instructs federal agencies to challenge state AI laws in court while specifically allowing exceptions for rules related to child safety. The legislation also comes after several incidents involving AI, chatbots, and children.Padilla also helped write California’s recently approved SB 243, which requires companies that operate chatbots to implement safeguards to protect children and other vulnerable users.