First AI-Powered Storytelling Teddy Bear

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By Abdul Rehman

First AI-Powered Teddy Bear:

First AI-Powered Teddy Bear:

Generative AI is making waves everywhere, and now it has found its way into toys. Poe, an AI Story Bear, is the latest innovation in children’s toys. This teddy bear doesn’t just sit around and look cute; it tells stories. Powered by advanced AI software, Poe can generate and read aloud unique stories for children. Priced at $50, it’s set to hit stores in August. I recently had the opportunity to test Poe with my kids, and bedtime has never been a stranger.

What is a Teddy Bear?

Poe is a talking teddy bear developed by Skyrocket, a toy company based in Los Angeles. It is part of their PLAi brand, which focuses on AI-powered toys. Poe uses ChatGPT 4o, an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI, to create stories. The stories are generated using Microsoft Azure and the voice for Poe is provided by ElevenLabs. Each story is unique, ensuring that children always have something new to listen to.

How Does Teddy Bear Work?

How Does Teddy Bear Work?

Poe is a plush bear that operates on four AA batteries. To generate stories, Poe needs to be connected to a kid-friendly app via Bluetooth. The app allows children to choose different elements for their story, such as characters, objects, and settings. For example, they can mix a witch, a social media influencer, an alien warlord, a zombie, and an archeologist into one story. Once the choices are made, the app sends a prompt to ChatGPT 4o, which generates a story. This story is then sent back to the bear, and Poe’s mouth moves in sync with the narration.

Poe can store favorite stories, which can be replayed by pressing its ears. The app itself is designed to be simple and child-friendly, guiding children through the story creation process with pictures.

Safety and Content Controls:

One of the primary concerns with AI-generated content is ensuring it is appropriate for children. Poe does not have microphones or cameras, and it is not connected to the internet. However, the AI chatbot could still generate inappropriate content. To prevent this, Skyrocket has implemented several filters and guardrails to keep stories kid-friendly. They have a team dedicated to monitoring and adjusting these protections based on feedback from parents.

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For example, during testing, a story used the word “cancer” as a synonym for destructive, which could lead to uncomfortable conversations. Skyrocket responded by blocking that word. Parents can also block certain themes or characters, such as zombies, to tailor the content to younger children.

Voice and Language Capabilities:

Poe’s voice is also generated by AI, converting text into speech. The bear can tell stories in over 20 languages, and the voices from ElevenLabs aim to be engaging and appropriate for children. However, during my testing, the voice sometimes lacked the emotion and inflection necessary to hold my children’s attention. Skyrocket is working on improving this aspect before the final launch.

Story Length and Cost:

The stories generated by Poe typically last for 2 to 3 minutes, which is ideal for a child’s attention span. However, generating these stories is server-intensive, which affects the cost. Each Poe bear comes with credits to create 75 stories. After that, parents might need to buy additional credits. Skyrocket is also considering offering extra stories for free over time.

My Kids' Experience:

My children, aged 8 and 5, were excited to try Poe. I didn’t have to explain generative AI to them; I just told them that the bear makes up stories based on their choices in the app. They enjoyed the process of creating stories and were amused by the randomness of the content. They treated it like a game, seeing how many elements they could cram into one story.

However, they sometimes struggled to follow the stories, especially when the vocabulary was too advanced. For example, in a scary time-travel story we created, the vocabulary included words like “ghastly apparition” and “chronosphere,” which were difficult for them to understand. Skyrocket plans to simplify the vocabulary and improve the voice to make the stories more accessible to children.

The Future of AI Toys:

The idea of AI-powered toys is not entirely new, but Poe is one of the first to bring it to life in such an engaging way. Skyrocket’s CEO, Nelo Lucich, mentioned that there are plans to continue improving and expanding the capabilities of Poe. This could include making sequels to stories and enhancing the app to create more engaging content.

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Other AI toys are also entering the market. For example, the Miko Mini and the Moxie robot offer interactive experiences powered by AI. These toys come at a higher price point, reflecting the advanced technology they incorporate.

Comparison to Teddy Ruxpin:

Poe reminds me of Teddy Ruxpin, the first animatronic talking toy from my childhood. Released in 1985, Teddy Ruxpin used cassette tapes to play audio stories and came with physical books for children to follow along. It was a huge success, costing $70 back then (equivalent to $204 today).

Teddy Ruxpin’s stories were crafted by a team of writers, musicians, and voice actors, creating a rich fantasy adventure series. Poe, on the other hand, relies on AI to generate stories, which means the creative process is more automated. While Poe doesn’t have its adventure series, the app allows for sequels, giving children the opportunity to continue their favorite stories.

Features of Teddy Bear:

Features of Teddy Bear:

Poe, the AI Story Bear, brings several innovative features designed to make storytime engaging and educational for children. Here’s a detailed look at what makes Poe special:

1. AI-Generated Stories

Poe uses ChatGPT 4o, an advanced AI chatbot developed by OpenAI, to create unique stories. These stories are generated based on the child’s choices in the app, ensuring that no two stories are the same. This keeps the storytelling experience fresh and exciting every time.

2. Interactive Story Creation

The accompanying app is designed to be child-friendly, guiding children through the story creation process with simple, intuitive steps. Kids can choose characters, objects, and settings from a variety of options, allowing them to craft their own adventures. This interactive element encourages creativity and decision-making.

3. Voice and Language Options

Poe’s voice is generated by ElevenLabs, offering an engaging and childlike narration. The bear can tell stories in over 20 languages, making it accessible to children from diverse linguistic backgrounds. The voices are designed to be appropriate and appealing to young listeners.

4. Story Storage and Playback

Poe can store favorite stories, which can be replayed by pressing its ears. This feature allows children to listen to their favorite stories without needing the app, making it convenient for travel or bedtime.

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5. No Internet Connection Needed

To ensure safety and privacy, Poe does not have microphones or cameras and is not connected to the internet. Stories are generated and transferred to the bear via Bluetooth from the app, ensuring that no data is collected or transmitted online.

6. Content Filters and Guardrails

Skyrocket has implemented several filters and guardrails to ensure the stories generated by Poe are appropriate for children. There are blocks on certain words and themes, and parents can further customize the content by blocking specific characters or themes they find unsuitable for their child’s age.

7. Quick Story Generation

The app generates stories quickly, usually within 30 seconds of hitting the “Make up Story” button. This fast response time keeps children engaged and reduces waiting periods, enhancing the overall experience.

8. Battery Operated

Poe operates on four AA batteries, making it portable and easy to use anywhere. There’s no need to worry about finding a power outlet, and replacement batteries are readily available.

9. Cost and Story Credits

Each Poe bear comes with credits to create 75 stories. After using these credits, parents might need to purchase additional credits to generate more stories. However, Skyrocket is considering offering extra stories for free over time to add value without additional cost.

10. Educational and Fun

While primarily designed for entertainment, Poe also has educational benefits. The storytelling process can help improve children’s vocabulary, comprehension, and listening skills. The interactive nature of the app encourages creativity and critical thinking.

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