A kid-friendly artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot will be incorporated into OnChain Studios’ character-based digital collectibles, the non-fungible token (NFT) startup Cryptoys’ Web3 counterpart.To guarantee that their children have acceptable, safe chats with their NFT avatars, parents can modify the chat filter in the AI program called ChatGuardian.Parents will have access to the Cryptoys Guardian Control Center where they can, at their discretion, forbid certain words and subjects.
Cryptoys anticipates that the addition of ChatGuardian will enhance youngsters’ interactions with their NFTs as they converse with their digital toys more interesting and enjoyable.The corporation is aware of the ambiguities and concerns that the adoption of AI raises, but there is no danger of an M3GAN-style doll gone awry in this situation.Kids born in the blockchain and AI era should be able to engage with their favorite characters from intellectual property (IP) franchises rather than “faceless robotic companions,” like Google Home, according to Will Weinraub, CEO and co-founder of OnChain Studio and Cryptoys.
“You get the same kind of AI functionality that [kids] are so used to, and it’s so natural for them these days – but with their favorite characters,” said Weinraub. “That’s a big focus with this, and doing it in a safe way, which is why ChatGuardian was built.”
ChatGuardian will develop together with AI to become smarter and more sophisticated.In a press statement, Alfonso Martinez, Chief Experience Officer at Cryptoys, stated that the company’s first aim is to uphold its safety standards and offer the technology to assuage parents’ concerns.
“We have faith in the future of AI and its amazing abilities to bring to life some of our favorite characters and have our children play with them in a way they’ve never done before – but none of that matters if it’s not on a platform that is as safe as possible,” said Martinez. “And that is what we are working towards achieving.”
OnChain Studios’ ChatGuardian, which it has been working on for the past two years, will initially be incorporated into Cryptoys’ native Zoo-F-O collection of animal-themed digital collectibles, which includes big-eyed cats, dogs, and pandas.It is first being distributed to current Cryptoys collectors, but in its second release, it will include more child-safe verifications.
In order to prepare for its foray into AI, Cryptoys has been devoted to developing its products and collaborations since receiving $23 million in funding from the cryptocurrency investment firm a16z, NFT provider Dapper Labs, and toy manufacturing giant Mattel in June 2022.It collaborated with Mattel to launch a line of digital action figures based on the Masters of the Universe movie in November.Disney and Cryptoys collaborated to create a line of NFTs with a Star Wars theme that was released in May and included actors from the renowned film series.