R.J. Cross

Advocate @uspirg / writer. Protecting folks in the new age of technological change & corporate abuse (and telling jokes while we're at it). @rj-x.bsky.social

[R.J. Cross @FrontierRJ]

Mastercard knows where you shop, on what day, and how much you spend - and it sells that data widely to third parties like data brokers and advertisers. Our new investigation out today: https://t.co/GuC3nZFA9u 1/

[U.S. PIRG @uspirg]

How are AI chatbots that aren't safe for kids ending up in toys? @FrontierRJ breaks down what we found in our recent report "Not for Kids. Found in Toys." https://t.co/qUdsa4jrU1

[Space Koala @SpaceKoala]

Inspiring

[NBC News @NBCNews]

Miko, a company that makes toys powered by artificial intelligence, is including an AI on-off switch for its core technology after political pressure and probes of their products. https://t.co/erqQF3jGzw

[R.J. Cross @FrontierRJ]

Had a fun convo w/ @cyberguy about AI companies letting 3rd parties use their models-that aren’t for kids-in kids’ products, & not vetting the people doing it.
If you've got kids in your life (or just find this stuff as wild as I do), this one is fun:
https://t.co/FwPkyqNVlv

[Kurt Knutsson @cyberguy]

R.J. Cross from PIRG tells us how various AI toys are explaining sexual topics to children. Get the full episode here: https://t.co/7v1PgArj6G #BeyondConnected #AIRegulation

[R.J. Cross @FrontierRJ]

2008, but make it crypto https://t.co/IWfYA1pWoJ

[R.J. Cross @FrontierRJ]

@lovedropx A Still Small Voice - you'll feel awake by the end

[R.J. Cross @FrontierRJ]

@JakeMorrisonNBA uh, source please?

[R.J. Cross @FrontierRJ]

I couldn't tell if you @moltbook people were real until this

[Jared Perlo @_perloj]

"Humans try their best." A look at Moltbook = a look into the future? I talked to @MattPRD about his, and Clawd Clawderberg's, creation. @NBCNews

https://t.co/e43bBcsmyU

[R.J. Cross @FrontierRJ]

lol. these #ai toy startups are not serious. if this is your best, you should not be making stuff for kids https://t.co/qJaXETpnze

[R.J. Cross @FrontierRJ]

@rumilyrics Understand that people grow, and forgiveness sets you free

[Anna Aurilio M.Sc. @EnvAmAnna]

Grateful for the @uspirg watchdogs and @FrontierRJ @FrontierGroupUS

[Anna Aurilio M.Sc. @EnvAmAnna]

This is important. Kudos to @FrontierGroupUS @FrontierRJ and @uspirg for relentlessly working to keep kids safe. #TroubleinToyland

Scoop: Mattel's collaboration with OpenAI won't emerge this year https://t.co/GEXsb8QNv0 #axiosai

[Arizona PIRG @ArizonaPIRG]

The Risks of AI Toys for Children. We tested AI toys & found they have real problems. See our main reasons for caution in @PinalCentral. @CAA_Arizona @FrontierRJ https://t.co/ga64Zz5nln

[R.J. Cross @FrontierRJ]

Our new report on how weird #AI toys are: https://t.co/tQALoLEL1D

[R.J. Cross @FrontierRJ]

Had a blast taping a segment with The Today Show earlier this week (with my good friend Kumma the AI-powered sex bear). Great capstone to 2 months of the weirdest research I've ever done.

[The Jake & Spike Show @jakespikeshow]

There's an AI-enabled teddy bear that will talk to your kids about BDSM?!

We just had a great conversation with @FrontierRJ with warnings for parents before holiday shopping.

More tips here: https://t.co/lsQ8OEeE2M

@jakeskorheim @KIRONewsradio

[R.J. Cross @FrontierRJ]

Had a blast talking to Sean at the #AI podcast Suspicious Minds about my unhinged toys research. And yes, the teddy bear that talks about kink makes an in-person appearance. https://t.co/edLfEii6IB

[Lisa Frank @LisaKFrank1]

AI in teddy bears- what could go wrong? @uspirg's researchers decided to find out. #toysafety #holidayshopping #artificial_intelligence https://t.co/MsxPHOKCjN

[designboom @designboom]

advocacy researchers @uspirg releases a report detailing how children are at risk around AI-powered toys https://t.co/KEQjVufOfD