A new line of toys called Grem, Grok and Gaboo, from Curio, a company based in Redwood City, California, is going viral. They are stuffed animals with Wi-Fi voice boxes that use AI to talk to children. At $99 each, they are meant to be a fun alternative to screen time, helping kids play without tablets or phones.

The toys act like a friend, making playtime more exciting, says Curio co-founder Sam Eaton. But some, like Amanda Hess of the New York Times, question whether these AI toys are as good as screens because they use similar technology.

There are also privacy concerns. The toys record children’s conversations and send them to parents’ phones. Curio says it doesn’t store the data, but it could share it with other companies. Hess thinks simple stuffed animals without AI are better because it helps children play with their imagination.