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AI toys are all the rage in China--and now they're appearing on shelves in the US too

MIT Technology Review

AI toys are all the rage in China--and now they're appearing on shelves in the US too Competition is heating up, with Mattel and OpenAI expected to launch a product for kids this year. Kids have always played with and talked to stuffed animals. But now their toys can talk back, thanks to a wave of companies that are fitting children's playthings with chatbots and voice assistants. It's a trend that has particularly taken off in China: A recent report by the Shenzhen Toy Industry Association and JD.com predicts that the sector will surpass ¥100 billion ($14 billion) by 2030, growing faster than almost any other branch of consumer AI. According to the Chinese corporation registration database Qichamao, there are over 1,500 AI toy companies operating in China as of October 2025. One of the latest entrants to the market is a toy called BubblePal, a device the size of a Ping-Pong ball that clips onto a child's favorite stuffed animal and makes it "talk."


Save 25 Percent on This Sonos Prime Day Soundbar Deal

WIRED

This sweet Sonos soundbar gets a rare discount for Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days. All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. Amazon Prime Day comes around but once, or twice, or maybe like three times (?) a year, and it's a great time to stock up on tech, including grabbing one of the best soundbars you can buy on sale. This Sonos Beam Gen 2 Prime Day soundbar deal certainly qualifies, offering clear and expressive performance and a ton of features for a serious discount during Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event.


Sea level rise could plunge 100 MILLION buildings underwater, warn scientists - so, is your home at risk?

Daily Mail - Science & tech

AOC hit by shockingly crude sex insult by White House after she mocked'TINY' Stephen Miller Biden ordered CIA cover-up of his'corrupt' business ties to Ukraine, astonishing secret files show NYC girls aged 12 and 13 meet tragic end after going subway surfing across Williamsburg Bridge at 3.10am ERIC TRUMP: The darkest day in my dad's marriage to Melania... before the ugly truth was exposed More girls are starting their periods younger than ever before - scientists think they've finally found what's causing it Taylor Swift reveals truth behind raunchy song about Travis Kelce's manhood Meghan is accused of'giggling as model stumbles on the catwalk': More Paris Fashion Week disasters emerge, including awkward moment with Kristin Scott Thomas The TRUTH to the doting mother who slaughtered her children and husband told by those she'd been quietly tormenting for years The troubled background of delivery man stabbed by Mark Sanchez... as he launches million-dollar lawsuit and sparks civil war at Fox Revealed: Which slimming jab REALLY works best. The doctors' ultimate expert guide on which to pick, how to save money, beat every side effect... and what you need to know about the'golden dose' I haven't heard that name in so long' Ominous warning for humanity as birds suddenly adopt'unsettling' behavior And a humiliating lifeline: Backroom secrets of Taylor Swift and Blake Lively... after hit new song Bottled water contains dangerous levels of microplastics that lodge in vital organs and raise cancer risk', scientists warn Sea level rise could plunge 100 MILLION buildings underwater, warn scientists - so, is your home at risk? Rising sea levels could plunge more than 100 million buildings underwater by 2100, scientists have warned. The experts in Canada estimated how many buildings in Africa, Southeast Asia and Central and South America would be flooded by different sea level changes. Their assessment found that sea level rises of just 1.6 feet (0.5 metres) would flood three million buildings in the global south alone.


Storm Karen to explode in just DAYS with hurricane models revealing dangerous path to the US

Daily Mail - Science & tech

AOC hit by shockingly crude sex insult by White House after she mocked'TINY' Stephen Miller Biden ordered CIA cover-up of his'corrupt' business ties to Ukraine, astonishing secret files show NYC girls aged 12 and 13 meet tragic end after going subway surfing across Williamsburg Bridge at 3.10am ERIC TRUMP: The darkest day in my dad's marriage to Melania... before the ugly truth was exposed More girls are starting their periods younger than ever before - scientists think they've finally found what's causing it Taylor Swift reveals truth behind raunchy song about Travis Kelce's manhood Meghan is accused of'giggling as model stumbles on the catwalk': More Paris Fashion Week disasters emerge, including awkward moment with Kristin Scott Thomas The TRUTH to the doting mother who slaughtered her children and husband told by those she'd been quietly tormenting for years The troubled background of delivery man stabbed by Mark Sanchez... as he launches million-dollar lawsuit and sparks civil war at Fox Revealed: Which slimming jab REALLY works best. The doctors' ultimate expert guide on which to pick, how to save money, beat every side effect... and what you need to know about the'golden dose' I haven't heard that name in so long' Ominous warning for humanity as birds suddenly adopt'unsettling' behavior And a humiliating lifeline: Backroom secrets of Taylor Swift and Blake Lively... after hit new song Bottled water contains dangerous levels of microplastics that lodge in vital organs and raise cancer risk', scientists warn A weather system developing right off the US East Coast could strengthen into a dangerous tropical storm in the coming days, experts have warned. Meteorologists said that this tropical rainstorm is expected to form quickly over the weekend, potentially bringing'prolonged coastal flooding' to the entire East Coast, from southern Florida to New England. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has noted that the next two Atlantic storm names will be Jerry and Karen, with Jerry likely to form farther away from the US this week. As for the storm that could become Karen, forecasters have already predicted that North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland are expected to get heavy rainfall between Friday and Saturday.


How billiard balls led to plastic everywhere

Popular Science

Amazon Prime Day is live. See the best deals HERE. The drive to save elephants had some unforeseen conservation consequences. Billiard balls were once made of ivory. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday.


California turns down the volume on streaming ads

Popular Science

Amazon Prime Day is live. See the best deals HERE. SB 576 expands on 2010's CALM Act. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. California lawmakers are determined to turn the volume down just a notch.


AI tech helps a senior reunite with her cat after 11 days

FOX News

Love Lost's AI photo-matching technology helped locate Louie, an indoor cat who escaped through a window, connecting his owner Sharon with a helpful neighbor.


Millions of Americans under dangerous freeze warning TODAY as temperatures plunge to 22 F

Daily Mail - Science & tech

Ominous warning for humanity as birds suddenly adopt'unsettling' behavior Meghan is accused of'giggling as model stumbles on the catwalk': More Paris Fashion Week disasters emerge, including awkward moment with Kristin Scott Thomas More girls are starting their periods younger than ever before - scientists think they've finally found what's causing it The TRUTH to the doting mother who slaughtered her children and husband told by those she'd been quietly tormenting for years Insiders confirm what everyone suspects about Taylor Swift and Blake Lively... the private apology... and how any future friendship hangs on one humiliating condition Outrage as Baltimore's Dem mayor spends $164k of taxpayer cash on ultra-luxurious new SUV I have no sympathy for them - but this disturbing new trend isn't the answer: JANA HOCKING Taylor Swift reveals truth behind raunchy song about Travis Kelce's manhood Revealed: Which slimming jab REALLY works best. The doctors' ultimate expert guide on which to pick, how to save money, beat every side effect... and what you need to know about the'golden dose' Functioning alcoholics hide in plain sight... so are YOU one? Trump brands NFL's Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show selection'absolutely ridiculous' The troubled background of delivery man stabbed by Mark Sanchez... as he launches million-dollar lawsuit and sparks civil war at Fox Millions of Americans are facing a dangerous freeze warning on Tuesday as temperatures drop below freezing across multiple states. Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 22 to 30 F are expected in parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Michigan, Colorado, Wyoming and Idaho . The National Weather Service (NWS) issued the warning for tonight into Wednesday morning, ending between 8 and 10am local time, depending on the state and county .


That was close! Huge asteroid comes within 300 miles of hitting Earth - and NASA only noticed AFTER the close encounter

Daily Mail - Science & tech

Ominous warning for humanity as birds suddenly adopt'unsettling' behavior Meghan is accused of'giggling as model stumbles on the catwalk': More Paris Fashion Week disasters emerge, including awkward moment with Kristin Scott Thomas More girls are starting their periods younger than ever before - scientists think they've finally found what's causing it The TRUTH to the doting mother who slaughtered her children and husband told by those she'd been quietly tormenting for years Insiders confirm what everyone suspects about Taylor Swift and Blake Lively... the private apology... and how any future friendship hangs on one humiliating condition Outrage as Baltimore's Dem mayor spends $164k of taxpayer cash on ultra-luxurious new SUV I have no sympathy for them - but this disturbing new trend isn't the answer: JANA HOCKING Taylor Swift reveals truth behind raunchy song about Travis Kelce's manhood Trump stuns CNN reporter as he muses about Ghislaine Maxwell pardon: 'I haven't heard that name in so long' Revealed: Which slimming jab REALLY works best. The doctors' ultimate expert guide on which to pick, how to save money, beat every side effect... and what you need to know about the'golden dose' Functioning alcoholics hide in plain sight... so are YOU one? Trump brands NFL's Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show selection'absolutely ridiculous' The troubled background of delivery man stabbed by Mark Sanchez... as he launches million-dollar lawsuit and sparks civil war at Fox A huge asteroid came within 300 miles of hitting Earth, and scientists only noticed after it had already skimmed past the planet. The 9.8-foot (three metre) space rock, dubbed 2025 TF, flew over Antarctica in the early hours of October 1. Passing at an altitude of just 265 miles (428 kilometres), the rock came closer to the Earth's surface than the orbit of the International Space Station . However, space agencies only realised the near-miss had occurred when the asteroid was detected by the Catalina Sky Survey a few hours later.


People who don't like animals are more likely to have dark personality traits, study finds

Daily Mail - Science & tech

Ominous warning for humanity as birds suddenly adopt'unsettling' behavior Meghan is accused of'giggling as model stumbles on the catwalk': More Paris Fashion Week disasters emerge, including awkward moment with Kristin Scott Thomas More girls are starting their periods younger than ever before - scientists think they've finally found what's causing it The TRUTH to the doting mother who slaughtered her children and husband told by those she'd been quietly tormenting for years Insiders confirm what everyone suspects about Taylor Swift and Blake Lively... the private apology... and how any future friendship hangs on one humiliating condition Outrage as Baltimore's Dem mayor spends $164k of taxpayer cash on ultra-luxurious new SUV I have no sympathy for them - but this disturbing new trend isn't the answer: JANA HOCKING Taylor Swift reveals truth behind raunchy song about Travis Kelce's manhood Trump stuns CNN reporter as he muses about Ghislaine Maxwell pardon: 'I haven't heard that name in so long' Revealed: Which slimming jab REALLY works best. The doctors' ultimate expert guide on which to pick, how to save money, beat every side effect... and what you need to know about the'golden dose' Functioning alcoholics hide in plain sight... so are YOU one? Trump brands NFL's Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show selection'absolutely ridiculous' The troubled background of delivery man stabbed by Mark Sanchez... as he launches million-dollar lawsuit and sparks civil war at Fox People who don't like animals are more likely to have dark personality traits, study finds On-screen psychopaths such as Patrick Bateman in'American Psycho' and Villanelle in ' Killing Eve ' are often depicted hurting animals. Now, a study suggests this character flaw is not just the stuff of fiction. Scientists in Serbia have found a link between psychopathy and the belief that animals aren't as worthy as humans.