Expanding Beyond China

Chinese ⁢AI toy companies are rapidly expanding into international markets. BubblePal launched in the United States in ⁢December 2024 and is now available in Canada and the United Kingdom. FoloToy is currently ‌sold in‍ over 10 countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Brazil, Germany, and Thailand.

Rui Ma, a China tech ‌analyst at AlphaWatch.AI, notes that​ AI-powered toys are especially well-suited to the⁤ Chinese market due to its established consumer base for educational electronics geared towards children-a market less‌ developed elsewhere.FoloToy CEO Kong Miaomiao told Baijing Chuhai that the⁤ company ‍is currently focused on “early adopters” outside of China who are curious about AI technology.[[[[Baijing Chuhai]

A Legacy of Educational Electronics

China’s current AI‌ toy⁣ surge builds upon ‌decades of experience in designing consumer electronics for children. As early as the 1990s, companies like BBK popularized electronic dictionaries and “study machines,” marketed to parents as educational tools. These devices combined toy-like features with educational ⁤functions,⁢ offering interactive stories and simulating playmate interactions.

Competition Heats ‍Up

The AI toy market is becoming increasingly competitive, with US companies entering the fray. Musician Grimes collaborated on the creation of Grok,a plush toy designed to⁤ chat with children and adapt to their personalities. Toy ‌industry giant Mattel is partnering with OpenAI to integrate conversational AI into its popular brands, Barbie and Hot Wheels, with ⁣initial product announcements expected later in 2025.

Early Reviews are Mixed

Parental reviews of‌ AI toys originating in China are varied.While many ⁤appreciate the screen-free nature and robust parental controls, some report ‍issues with glitches and a lack of consistent‌ AI performance, leading to children​ losing interest quickly.

Huang noted that the toy’s responses were often lengthy and the role-playing felt unnatural, with the voice sounding “out of place.”