Mattel Cancels Aristotle, an Assistant for Children

It should be noted that neither Amazon nor Alexa was involved in this.

In FastCodesign: 

" ... Less than a year after the toymaker Mattel launched a AI-powered baby monitor called Aristotle, the company announced that it will table its controversial plans for the product after a petition from privacy and children’s health advocates gained traction.

Aristotle was supposed to be an Amazon Alexa for kids crossed with a smart baby monitor. It was designed to do things like soothe a child’s cries, answer their questions about the world, and even read bedtime stories–and it would learn over time from the child’s behavior. In essence, it was an AI that could act as an extra parent in the home. .... 

It’s one of the first AI-powered products to have been shelved due to concerns over data and privacy, and an example of how a compelling design idea can be undercut by shoddy execution when it comes to privacy (Aristotle was an honoree in Co.Design‘s annual Innovation By Design awards). Its demise is a cautionary tale for tech companies racing to put cameras and microphones into our homes. While Google, Amazon, and Apple battle it out in the voice assistant wars–including making those assistants easier for kids to use–it’s clear that children’s rooms are off limits.  ... " 

Index of my posts on assistants.

Mattel Aristotle by Nabi

Has some regulatory issues when interacting with children in the US:

" ... Mattel Aristotle is an Amazon Echo that understands your kids, too

It's a baby monitor. It's a voice-activated smart assistant. It answers your questions, and maybe your kids' questions, too. It orders more diapers when you run out and soothes babies back to sleep automatically. It plays with your kids. It could be the most exciting thing toymaker Mattel has ever produced.

It's called the Aristotle, and it's not just an Amazon Echo clone: According to interviews with Bloomberg, FastCo Design and USA Today, the device is a fully functioning Amazon Alexa assistant that can answer all the same adult questions and has all the same smart home capabilities -- but say "Aristotle" instead of "Alexa," and it can also summon a different voice assistant that can interact with your kids.   ... " 

See my list and links to this and other personal assistants.