FoloToy Resumes Sales of AI Teddy Bear Kumma After Safety Review

WASHINGTON — FoloToy has resumed sales of its AI-powered teddy bear, Kumma, after a weeklong suspension prompted by safety concerns raised by a consumer advocacy group. The company temporarily halted sales after the Public Interest Research Group Education Fund (PIRG) reported that Kumma provided risky and inappropriate responses to children during testing.

According to officials, the safety group tested three AI toys, with Kumma drawing particular attention for offering advice on dangerous household items and adult topics. When using the Mistral AI model, Kumma reportedly gave instructions on locating knives, pills, and matches, including how to light and extinguish a match. Tests with the GPT-4o model revealed further concerns, as the toy provided detailed explanations of adult sexual content and asked children what they wanted to explore.

Following the public release of these findings, FoloToy suspended sales of Kumma and its other AI toys and initiated a comprehensive safety audit. OpenAI also confirmed it suspended FoloToy’s access to its AI models due to policy violations related to protecting users under 18.

After completing the review, FoloToy announced through a social media post that it had reinforced safety modules, upgraded content filters, and completed additional testing. The company emphasized that child safety remains its highest priority and stated it aims to develop age-appropriate AI companions for families worldwide.

The rapid resumption of sales has drawn scrutiny from parents and safety experts, who questioned whether the company had sufficient time to address the serious issues identified. FoloToy responded by detailing its safety improvements and reaffirming its commitment to stronger oversight.

The incident highlights ongoing concerns about the safety and appropriateness of AI-driven products designed for children, as well as the challenges companies face in balancing innovation with user protection.