Congress and California Push to Regulate AI Chatbot Toys as Makers Expand

U.S. Rep. Blake Moore introduced legislation classifying AI chatbot toys as a safety violation. California proposes a four-year moratorium. The moves come as manufacturers accelerate: Mattel partnered with OpenAI, Sharp launched PokeTomo, and Miko reports over 700,000 units sold globally. Regulators are acting faster than they have with previous child-tech trends, potentially constraining a category major makers now see as strategically important.