CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS may contain more surprises than usual this year, as children open presents that can talk back. Toymakers in China have declared 2025 the year of artificial intelligence (AI) and are producing robots and teddies that can teach, play and tell stories. Older children, meanwhile, are glued to viral AI videos and AI-enhanced games. At school, many are being taught with materials created with tools like ChatGPT. Some are even learning alongside chatbot-tutors.
Explore more
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “How AI is rewiring childhood ”
From the December 6th 2025 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents