There's nothing stopping Barbie nowadays. With over 150 careers spanning over 60 years, she's been an astronaut, a racecar driver, a soldier, and even a rock star. But now, for the first time, she can literally tell you about her life. The new Hello Barbie uses WiFi to listen to a child's questions and comments, and the toy responds, with the help of AI, using one of 8,000 phrases.
To watch Hello Barbie in action, view the video below.
But there are more questions than answers about the impact of technology like this housed in a seemingly harmless toy. Will Hello Barbie have an impact on how kids develop and their interaction with other children? Is it forcing children to prioritize AI interactions over human interactions? Do these recorded messages violate privacy rights? With technology and humanity becoming more and more entwined, it's doubtful that the answers to these questions will be black and white.
To learn more about Hello Barbie and its impact, visit TechRepublic.
About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
Connect with Alexis on LinkedIn