A California lawmaker is considering a four-year ban on AI chatbots in children’s toys

Senator Steve Padilla (D-CA) introduced a bill Monday that would end a four-year ban on the sale and manufacture of toys with AI chatbot capabilities to children under 18. The goal is to give regulators time to develop rules to protect children from “dangerous AI interactions.”

“Chatbots and other AI tools may become an integral part of our lives in the future, but the dangers they pose now demand that we take action to protect our children,” Senator Padilla said in a statement. “Our safety laws around this type of technology are in their infancy and will need to grow as technology evolves. The moratorium on the sale of chatbot-integrated toys gives us time to develop proper safety guidelines and a framework for these toys to comply with.”

The bill, known as SB 287, comes after the President Trump’s latest executive order instructing government agencies to oppose state AI laws – even though the law provides exceptions to state child protection laws. The law also follows a number of issues related to AI, chatbots, and children.

In the last year, cases were filed and families his children he died by suicide after a long conversation with chatbots has prompted lawmakers to take action. Padilla also wrote about California recently passed SB243which requires chatbot operators to use safeguards to protect children and vulnerable users.

Although the use of chatbots in gaming has not yet become widespread, there have been reports of inconsistencies. In November 2025, the consumer advocacy group PIRG Education Fund has warned that toys like Kumma – a cute toy with built-in chatbots – can be prompted to talk about matches, knives, and sex. NBC News has found out that Miiloo, an “AI toy for children” developed by the Chinese company Miriat, has sometimes been shown to be designed to reflect the views of the Chinese Communist Party.

OpenAI and Barbie-maker Mattel are set to release it “AI-powered product” in 2025but delay their release. Neither company has explained the delay, and it is not known if they plan to release the toy in 2026.

“Our children cannot be used as lab rats for Big Tech to experiment with,” Padilla said.