> How is roleplay with this object different than other toys?
Traditional role play is driven by the child and their imagination, and is essentially free of constraints. This is driven by the technology, follows a narrow script, and only allows for a single mode of engagement. Not saying that makes it good or bad, but they're clearly 2 different modes of play.
> If you get lost in a D&D game is that bad because the world isn't real
D&D is fundamentally a social activity (by definition, you can't play D&D alone)...
> Getting lost in Myst
...enjoying a piece of art built by a creative team with an artistic vision...
> making Doom WADs
... an open ended, constructive activity that exercises various skills and that gives you something to share/show for it.
Do you really not see how all of the above are fundamentally different from interacting with this black box that pretends to be something it's not (a human voice), is fundamentally extractive because of the technology it runs on (pay more for more time with it), not to get into the fact that a) the data gets siphoned off to a corporation with its own profit motives and b) there is absolutely 0 guarantee that the simulation can't go off rails?
> These 'LLM Role play' toys have hit a real fun spot with my kids.
Coca-Cola and McDonald's hit a real fun spot with kids as well. This on its own is a weak argument of value.
Clearly playing with this for a bit isn't going to be catastrophic for the child (although $99 for 60 minutes of play, with pay-for-more beyond that point, is a pretty darn steep asking price, if you ask me - and if the child enjoys it, it means they will be begging their parent to cough up more money for more time - a pretty poor success case for a toy. Normally once a toy is bought, infinite time can be spent with it with no further financial transaction).
Is it desirable to build a world where kids spend more time with this category of toy over others (in effect priming them for being an AI girlfriend/boyfriend app subscriber a few years down the line)?
My experience with D&D was on the computer. I didn’t have friends that would play with me. I didn’t feel constrained by having computer driving the story. Games like Baldurs Gate pulled away from unhappy things happening otherwise.
id software had a profit motive right? As a kid it didn’t occur to me. I just nagged my parents to pay for Doom/Heretic.
I also have done everything to encourage/empower DIY. My hope is that users that are curious can learn more/build it themselves.
> Normally once a toy is bought, infinite time can be spent with it with no further financial transaction
I can’t think of any case where that is true. Books/toys all get worn and may need to be replaced. I have bought my son the same toy forklift three times because it breaks and he really loves it.
> Is it desirable to build a world where kids spend more time with this category of toy over others
I would rather see my kids play with this technology than consumption only (videos). Other play is better then doing Santa role play, but this isn’t close to be worse at all.
I 100% agree with Sean that the computer is an exploration machine. There are lots of net positive things for kids (and non-kids) that LLMs make possible. Just like there were lots of net positive things that an Internet connection makes possible.
Of course there are things technologies can do that are bad. For kids. For adults. For societies. But I build this kind of voice+LLM stuff, too, and have a kid, and the exploration, play, and learning opportunities here are really, really amazing.
For example, we are within reach of giving every child in the world a personalized, infinitely patient tutor that can cover any subject at the right level for that child. This doesn't replace classroom teachers. It augments what you can do in school, and what kids will be able to do outside of school hours.
My guy, such a bad faith argument to say “books and toys wear out too” to justify an API locked toy that costs $100 for one hour.
There are books, lego bricks, and other toys in my family that have now gone through three generations of kids and are ready for a fourth.
I understand you’re fighting hard to defend the thing you built, but come on.
And yeah, if you’re comparing this to TikTok brainrot, sure, I guess it’s one step above.