iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
In April 2023, University of Vermont student Jessica Card modified a Furby for a computer science class project, connecting the toy to a Raspberry Pi-based system that could recognize speech, generate a ChatGPT response and speak it aloud. When Card asked whether Furbies had a secret plot to take over the world, the toy delivered a suitably ominous answer—but its words were generated in response to that prompt, not evidence of a real plan or independent intent.
What Jessica Card’s ChatGPT Furby was
Card’s project paired a stripped-down, moving Furby with external computing and audio components. Sky News reported on April 5, 2023, that Card was a University of Vermont student and had made it for a computer science class. The skeletal appearance came from removing the toy’s outer covering; the project used its movement and voice output alongside added electronics.
Card introduced the project in an April 2, 2023 video with the joking line, “I hooked up ChatGPT to a Furby, and I think this may be the start of something bad for humanity,” as reported by Hackster. The joke became more dramatic when the toy answered a question about world domination.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →How the reported build worked
The Furby did not run ChatGPT by itself. In Tom’s Hardware’s account of the build, a Raspberry Pi 4 sat within a larger pipeline that handled speech input, a text response, spoken output and motor control. GIGAZINE also reproduced Card’s April 3, 2023 description of the setup.
#1 Best Overall
- HEY BESTIE, MEET FURBY: Give kids a friend who's always ready for BFF time with this incredibly interactive toy for girls and boys that moves, talks, sings, lights up, and even responds to speech
- YOUR VOICE UNLOCKS 5 MODES: Press the voice activated Furby toy's heart gem and say "Hey Furby!" to make Furby listen, then say a command to explore each mode (does not connect to the internet)
- OVER 600 RESPONSES: Chat, sing, and laugh together with this talking toy that's full of adorable, hilarious, and sometimes sassy surprises. Speaks both English and Furbish
- COOL LIGHTS AND SWEET DANCE MOVES: Furby is also a dancing toy with amazing blinking eyes and a light up color changing toy whose ears glow with different light effects
- FURBY TALKS TO OTHER FURBY FRIENDS: When you have 2 Furby friends together, pair them up and watch them interact! Each Furby sold separately.
| Part of the system | Reported component or role |
|---|---|
| Computer | Raspberry Pi 4 |
| Speech input | USB microphone and a Python speech-recognition module, with OpenAI Whisper used for speech-to-text |
| Response | ChatGPT generated text in response to the recognized prompt |
| Spoken output | Narakeet text-to-speech and a USB-powered speaker |
| Movement | An H-bridge motor controller connected the Furby’s DC motor wiring to the Pi; Card described using a breadboard |
These are the components described in contemporary coverage, not a tested build guide or a complete bill of materials. The reporting does not identify the Pi 4 revision or memory capacity, microphone or speaker model, or motor-controller model. Hackster said source code and schematics had not been released at the time of its report, so the published accounts are not enough to reproduce the project exactly.
Why the Furby talked about taking over the world
In the demonstration, Card asked, “Was there a secret plot from Furbies to take over the world?” Sky News reported that the Furby then delivered a takeover-themed narrative, including language about using its cute appearance to enter households and manipulate owners.
Rank #2
- SUPER SNUGGLY BEST FRIEND FOR KIDS 6 AND UP: From upbeat jams and hilarious games, to chill beats and lights, kids choose the vibe with this extra long Furby toy and its soft, huggable plushie body
- CREATE 1000+ PLAY COMBOS WITH 5 MODES: Create custom music, remix and hear Furby songs (they're such a bop), play games, chill with breathing and yoga moves, and more. Speaks English and Furbish
- UNLOCK GAMES, SONGS, AND MORE: Discover over 20 more games, songs, and activities as kids keep playing with this weird and wonderful electronic toy. Some games are also multiplayer!
- TOUCH ACTIVATED MULTICOLOR BELLY LIGHTS: Tap or swipe the 4 color changing lights on the belly for sensory play with different light effects and interactions
- TURN THE VOLUME UP (OR DOWN, OR OFF): Sometimes the Furby talking toy might need to quiet down a little. This one also has a quick power off option (requires 4 AA batteries, not included)
That answer was not evidence that the Furby—or ChatGPT—had formed a goal. Hackster and The Independent reported that the answer’s wording matched a 2017 article from Futurism. The exchange is better understood as a prompted AI response echoing existing text than as a revelation or confession.
Recommended Free Tools
The distinction matters because fluent, theatrical language can sound like a statement of intention even when it is generated text. The Independent quoted OpenAI’s April 2023 warning: “When users sign up to use the tool, we strive to be as transparent as possible that ChatGPT may not always be accurate.” The Furby’s performance was memorable; it was not a reliable account of a secret Furby plot.
Rank #3
- A FUNNY FUZZY FRIEND: Furby is a great friend for anytime, rain or shine! They even speak their own Furbish language and love to be pet, brushed, and fed
- ALWAYS AN ORIGINAL: The adorably big ears and eyes, soft fur, and outrageous personality are just a few of the reasons Furby has remained an un-fur-gettable pop culture icon
- DOES NOT CONNECT TO THE INTERNET (BUT DOES SHUT OFF): Furby doesn't connect to the internet or other devices for a screen-free experience. Even better, Furby can power down when the fun is done for the day
- FURBY TALKS TO OTHER FURBY FRIENDS: When you have 2 Furby friends together, pair them up and watch them interact! Furby also reacts to the Furblets mini friends. All Furby friends each sold separately.
- GIVE THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP: Standing over 6 inches/15 cm tall, Furby is a great gift for girls and boys to take on the go or bring joy to their room. Find your own Furby and give a kids gift to remember
What happened to the viral video
Tom’s Hardware reproduced Card’s post date as April 2, 2023. Sky News reported three days later that the video had received more than 1.3 million views within two days of upload. That figure is the contemporaneous count reported by Sky News in 2023, not a current view total.
The project’s appeal came from the contrast between a familiar toy and a disembodied conversational system: a skeletal Furby seemed to speak with its own agenda. The technical setup and the prompted, previously published wording behind its most alarming answer explain why the clip was entertaining without making it evidence of a threat.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- GALACTIC LITTLE BESTIE: Furblets play dress up with this officially licensed 3 inch Furby Grogu plushie (includes 3 button cell A76/LR44 batteries)
- OVER 45 SOUND EFFECTS: Press the top of the head, mouth, and heart gem to activate a variety of sound effects
- 3 WAYS TO ACTIVATE STAR WARS SOUNDS: Explore the buttons for Force sound effects, adorable Grogu babble, and eating sounds
- KEYCHAIN CLIP FOR ON THE GO: It's a great travel toy with a removable keychain clip for backpack decorations
- PEEKABOO EARS POP OPEN: Fold one or both ears down and press the head to make them pop back up
Rank #4
- A WACKY AND WONDERFUL BESTIE: With a stretchy body, fun sounds, and a quirky personality, this stretchy mini Furby friend isn’t your typical electronic pet or plush toy
- STRETCH FOR SILLY SOUND EFFECTS: Stretch the body to start a song or make a song hilariously speed up while it’s playing for silly sensory play (includes 3 button cell A76/LR44 batteries)
- PLAYS MUSIC AND SPEAKS FURBISH: This singing and talking toy plays fun tunes when you press the heart gem on its forehead. It also says phrases in the Furbish language (doesn’t speak human languages)
- KEYCHAIN CLIP FOR ON THE GO: DJ Furblets also make great travel toys for kids to clip to a bag and bring along on their next adventure. The clip is removable
- WORKS WITH OTHER FURBY FRIENDS (SOLD SEPARATELY): Interacts with its fellow DJ Furblets and Furblets toys plus the larger DJ Furby and 2023 Furby toys (each sold separately, subject to availability)
What the project does—and does not—show
- It shows a maker project: Card connected a Furby’s movement and voice output to external computing, speech recognition, ChatGPT and text-to-speech.
- It does not show a ready-made product: this was a class project using additional hardware, not an off-the-shelf AI Furby.
- It does not show independent intent: the takeover response followed a direct question, and reporting linked its wording to a 2017 Futurism article.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
