Mattel Shelves Baby Smart Speaker After Outcry

Voice-activated smart speakers are all the rage. Though the category only debuted with the 2014 release of the Echo by Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), growth in the segment has been staggering. Futuresource Consulting reports that smart speakers make up one of every three shipments of home audio equipment, with growth of 710% in the first quarter of 2017.

It was not surprising then that toy maker Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) would want to create an entry geared toward children. The company announced at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year that it would introduce the Aristotle, a smart speaker and baby monitor specifically designed with kids in mind.

However, the public objected almost immediately and Mattel has canceled plans to release the device amid outcry from parent groups, child advocates, and even several members of Congress.

Source: Fool.com