Google's New "Creepy Smart Toys" Patent

Last week Google was granted a patent for an anthropomorphic device (read teddy bear) that can sense, process, and respond to external stimuli from children playing with the toy. Beyond interacting with kids, the technology can be used to control media devices such as TVs, DVD players, and smart thermostats. This "creepy smart toys" patent was the outcome of some Google X research around 2012.