AI Toys: Disrupting Play, Redefining Ownership

Resources

Resources & Recommendations

Books

• "The Toy Book" (Publication of James Zahn) - A trade publication covering the North American toy industry, which has been around since 1984.

People Mentioned

• James Zahn (Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, also known as The Rock Father) - Interviewed for his expertise on toy trends, the kidult market, and the toy industry.
• Mr. Wonderful (Shark Tank Judge) - Referenced for his view on collectibles, specifically trading cards, as an asset class for serious investors.
• Logan Paul - Mentioned as an example of someone who collects high-value Pokémon cards, highlighting the investment aspect of toy collecting.

Organizations & Institutions

• Mattel - Toy company known for Barbie, Hot Wheels, Masters of the Universe, and Uno; made a deal with OpenAI to explore "experiences."
• Hasbro - Toy company known for GI Joe, Star Wars, Marvel, and Play-Doh; opened an AI studio to develop new products.
• OpenAI - AI research and deployment company; partnered with Mattel to work on "experiences."
• Mego - Toy company that produced the 2XL robot from the 70s.
• Pop Mart - Company that owns, manages, and sells the IP for Labubu and The Monsters line, based in China.
• Sony Animation - Partnered with Netflix to develop the "K-Pop Demon Hunters" animated film.
• Netflix - Streaming service that produced "K-Pop Demon Hunters."
• Circana - Organization that tracks the US toy industry.
• Goldman Sachs Bank USA - Issuer of the Apple Card.
• Marx Toys - Producer of the original Big Wheel trike, mentioned as a mount rushmore toy.
• Radio Flyer - Producer of the Little Red Wagon, mentioned as a mount rushmore toy.
• The Toy Insider (Publication of James Zahn) - A consumer publication that provides a "Hot 20" list of toys for kids.

Websites & Online Resources

• Woo.com/gocustom - Website for WooCommerce to learn more about their customizable e-commerce platform.
• Applecard.com - Website to learn more about the Apple Card.
• eBay - Online marketplace mentioned as a place where "flippers" might sell Labubu merchandise.

Other Resources

• Leap Pad (from LeapFrog) - A tablet-like device that the "Lily Pad" in Toy Story 5 appears to be based on.
• Adobe Photoshop - Software mentioned for its background removal tool, which technically uses AI.
• ChatGPT - AI language model mentioned as an example of underlying technology for AI companion toys.
• "K-Pop Demon Hunters" (Netflix Film) - A film that has inspired toy deals between Mattel and Hasbro, with Funko Pops being rushed to market.
• Funko Pops - Collectible figures that are being rushed to market for "K-Pop Demon Hunters."
• Toy Fair New York - An annual event for the toy industry in February.