Launched in 1998, Furby was a furry, talking, animal-like toy—equal parts gerbil, owl, and gremlin. The Furby represented one of the first attempts at domestic AI mass production. With built-in sensors and infrared detectors, the Furby could learn from and adapt to its environment, which allowed it to respond to shifting conditions. However, a year later and after having sold 14M units, Furby was banned as the National Security Agency viewed it as a security threat for its alleged potential for espionage, echoing a growing unease surrounding technology at the time.
