A.I. Plush Toys: Navigating the impact on students and how educators can empower them to handle the pressure of new tech
Be sure to check out the suggested Huddle question at the bottom of this article to discuss this important topic with your students in class, if you feel it is appropriate.
Musician Grimes, toy company Curio, and OpenAI recently teamed up to create an innovative A.I. Designed to converse and learn with its owner, this A.I.-powered toy sparks important questions about the impact of A.I. on young students, such as the educational value, privacy considerations, and empowering students to handle the pressure of new technological advancements.
Educators find themselves at the forefront of navigating these impacts on students and are often tasked with understanding and addressing these advancements while guiding students to handle the pressure to embrace every new tech trend.
How does this collaboration impact students, and how are educators empowering them to navigate these changes in tech?
A.I. and Toys: Impact on students
The A.I. plush toys, bearing the whimsical names Gabbo, Grem, and Grok, each with unique personalities, introduce a distinctive interactive experience for children. Constructed using the OpenAI model, these stuffed toys provide companionship and learn and adapt to their owners’ personalities, establishing a personalized connection.
Misha Sallee, Co-Founder of Curio, describes the unique traits of each plush toy: “Grok is a friendly rocket who loves to dance and can’t fly. Grem is a space alien who’s obsessed with the color pink. Gabbo is a curious, Pinocchio-like figure who is always looking for new friends. The idea here is to build fun, lovable personalities into each new character we launch.” The aim is to infuse fun and lovable personalities into each character, enhancing the interactive experience.
Grimes and Curio joined forces after a post on X when user Roon posted about envisioning a future where everything, including children’s teddy bears, would be animated with intelligence. Grimes responded to the post, leading to this collaboration.
In a world where students (and adults!) may feel pressure to conform to trends and technologies, handling the pressure with the latest A.I. technology can be challenging. By empowering students and their role models to navigate social media and tech in positive, high-character ways, we can equip students to navigate the rise of the latest tech advancements.
Handling the pressure of A.I. toys
These A.I. plush toys represent a groundbreaking innovation, offering students a captivating and engaging way to interact with their toys.
But, like all innovations, it’s crucial to recognize that these smart toys are part of a broader trend. Smart devices and A.I. technology increasingly surround students, and the pressure to own the latest gadgets can lead to FOMO and more. This pressure emphasizes the need to foster a balanced and mindful approach to integrating these innovations into students’ lives.
To empower students in handling this pressure, educators can:
- Encourage open conversations about the influence of technology in our lives.
- Help students understand that possessions do not determine their worth.
- Promote discussions on responsible tech use, emphasizing the importance of healthy relationships with technology.
As technology and A.I. evolve, educators can equip students with the tools to handle the pressure of navigating the rise in new technology. Discover how students are using A.I. in our ChatGPT Playbook.
#WinAtSocial Huddle Question
Huddle with your students
Let’s huddle about the growing presence of A.I. and smart technology. How do you handle the pressure of rising trends and devices? Share your thoughts on any A.I.-related trends you’ve seen on social media and how they’ve influenced you—was it positive, negative, or neutral?
The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in empowering students by understanding students. Through #WinAtSocial, our gamified, peer-to-peer learning platform, we equip students, educators, and families to navigate their social world – in the classroom and beyond, online and offline – in healthy, high-character ways. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips, rather than scares and restricts. We incorporate timely topics about social media, tech use, and current events that are impacting student well-being and learning. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach life skills for the modern day, capture student voice, and provide school leaders with actionable insights. Through these insights, students play an essential role in school efforts to support their own health, happiness, and future success as we enable high-impact teaching, meaningful family conversations, and a healthy school culture.