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Hasbro’s CEO has an AI Peppa Pig help design toys
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Hasbro’s CEO has an AI Peppa Pig help design toys

#Hasbro #AI #Peppa Pig #toys #video games #adult consumers #Monopoly Go #supply chain

📌 Key Takeaways

  • Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks discusses using AI, like an AI Peppa Pig, to assist in toy design and innovation.
  • The company is shifting focus toward adult consumers, who have more disposable income, rather than just children.
  • Hasbro is heavily investing in digital media and video games, including mobile hits like Monopoly Go and upcoming titles like Exodus.
  • The toy industry faces challenges from supply chain disruptions, AI integration, and volatility in the video game market.

📖 Full Retelling

Today, I’m talking with Chris Cocks, CEO of Hasbro. You know, Hasbro — the toy and game company that makes some of the most iconic products in the world, from toy lines like Transformers and My Little Pony to board and tabletop games like Monopoly, Magic: The Gathering, and Dungeons & Dragons. Chris was last on the show three years ago, as he was first stepping into the role, and we spent quite a bit of time then talking about his plans to collect more data, spin off parts of the company, and think about the future of collectibles… which, at that time, meant NFTs. Look, a lot’s happened in three years! NFTs just weren’t one of them. You’ll hear Chris laugh about this throughout, actually. Verge subscribers, don’t forget you get exclusive access to ad-free  Decoder  wherever you get your podcasts. Head here . Not a subscriber? You can sign up here . You know what did happen, though? A global supply chain and manufacturing nightmare precipitated by tariffs, the AI explosion, and, of course, the endless chaos of the video game industry. Oh, and there’s the relentless continuation of a trend that defines the modern toy industry: more and more toys and games are made for adults, who have a bunch of money, instead of kids, who don’t. Chris and I talked about that quite a bit, and I think his point of view is at once totally logical and also completely surprising. Chris and I also talked a lot about Hasbro investing so heavily in games and digital media. For example, you’ll hear Chris mention several times how big the mobile game Monopoly Go is for Hasbro. And while Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons are already huge, load-bearing brands, Hasbro is also trying to expand more into the video game space with original games, like Exodus , which is slated to release next year. That’s another huge set of challenges, in an era where video game studios are shutting down more or less weekly , and the distribution market is con

🏷️ Themes

AI Integration, Digital Expansion, Market Shift

📚 Related People & Topics

Peppa Pig

British preschool animated TV series

Peppa Pig is a British preschool animated children's television series created by Neville Astley and Mark Baker. Produced by Hasbro Entertainment and Karrot Animation and formerly Astley Baker Davies, the series follows Peppa, an anthropomorphic piglet, and her family and friends portrayed as other ...

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Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence

Intelligence of machines

# Artificial Intelligence (AI) **Artificial Intelligence (AI)** is a specialized field of computer science dedicated to the development and study of computational systems capable of performing tasks typically associated with human intelligence. These tasks include learning, reasoning, problem-solvi...

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Hasbro

Hasbro

American multinational toy and entertainment company

Hasbro, Inc. (; a syllabic abbreviation of its original name, Hassenfeld Brothers) is an American multinational toy manufacturing and entertainment holding company founded on December 6, 1923 by Henry, Hillel and Herman Hassenfeld and is incorporated and headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Has...

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Monopoly Go!

2023 video game

Monopoly Go! is a 2023 mobile board game developed and published by Scopely. It was released for Android and iOS devices on April 11, 2023.

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Mentioned Entities

Peppa Pig

British preschool animated TV series

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence

Intelligence of machines

Hasbro

Hasbro

American multinational toy and entertainment company

Monopoly Go!

2023 video game

Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

This news matters because it shows how traditional toy companies are adapting to technological shifts, with Hasbro using AI to design toys like Peppa Pig, potentially revolutionizing product development cycles and reducing costs. It affects toy industry workers who may see changing job requirements, investors watching Hasbro's digital transformation, and consumers who will encounter AI-influenced products. The shift toward adult-focused toys and games reflects broader economic realities where disposable income patterns are changing, making this strategic pivot crucial for the company's survival and growth in a competitive market.

Context & Background

  • Hasbro is a 100-year-old company founded in 1923, known for iconic brands like Transformers, My Little Pony, Monopoly, and Magic: The Gathering
  • Three years ago, Hasbro's CEO Chris Cocks discussed plans involving NFTs and data collection, showing the company's ongoing adaptation to digital trends
  • The toy industry has been experiencing a significant shift toward adult collectors, with adults now representing a growing percentage of toy and game purchases
  • Hasbro has faced supply chain challenges and manufacturing disruptions in recent years, prompting innovation in production methods
  • The company has been expanding into digital media, with successful mobile games like Monopoly Go and planned video game releases like Exodus

What Happens Next

Hasbro will likely continue expanding AI integration across more product lines beyond Peppa Pig, potentially announcing similar AI-assisted design for other major brands in 2025. The company's video game Exodus is slated for release next year, which will test Hasbro's expansion into original video game development. Industry analysts will monitor whether AI-designed toys resonate with consumers and if this approach gives Hasbro competitive advantages in speed-to-market and cost efficiency compared to traditional toy companies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Hasbro focusing on AI for toy design?

Hasbro is using AI to streamline design processes, potentially reducing development time and costs while creating products that better match consumer preferences. This represents the company's adaptation to technological advancements and competitive pressures in the toy industry.

What does the shift toward adult-focused toys mean for Hasbro?

The adult toy market represents a significant growth opportunity as adults have more disposable income than children. This strategic shift allows Hasbro to diversify revenue streams and reduce dependence on traditional child-focused toy markets that face demographic and economic challenges.

How successful has Hasbro's digital expansion been?

Hasbro has seen notable success with digital products like Monopoly Go mobile game, while maintaining strong performance in established digital-friendly brands like Magic: The Gathering. The company continues to invest in video game development despite industry volatility.

What happened to Hasbro's NFT plans mentioned three years ago?

Hasbro's NFT initiatives appear to have been deprioritized or abandoned, reflecting the broader cooling of the NFT market. The CEO acknowledges this shift with humor, indicating the company has redirected focus toward more promising technologies like AI.

How does AI toy design affect traditional toy designers?

AI design tools likely augment rather than replace human designers, allowing them to work more efficiently and explore more creative options. However, this technological shift may require designers to develop new skills and adapt to collaborative AI workflows.

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Original Source
Podcasts Gaming Decoder Hasbro’s CEO has an AI Peppa Pig help design toys Chris Cocks on AI, KPop Demon Hunters, and why Harry Potter still matters. by Nilay Patel Mar 9, 2026, 2:05 PM UTC Nilay Patel is editor-in-chief of The Verge, host of the Decoder podcast , and co-host of The Vergecast . Today, I’m talking with Chris Cocks, CEO of Hasbro. You know, Hasbro — the toy and game company that makes some of the most iconic products in the world, from toy lines like Transformers and My Little Pony to board and tabletop games like Monopoly, Magic: The Gathering, and Dungeons & Dragons. Chris was last on the show three years ago, as he was first stepping into the role, and we spent quite a bit of time then talking about his plans to collect more data, spin off parts of the company, and think about the future of collectibles… which, at that time, meant NFTs. Look, a lot’s happened in three years! NFTs just weren’t one of them. You’ll hear Chris laugh about this throughout, actually. Verge subscribers, don’t forget you get exclusive access to ad-free Decoder wherever you get your podcasts. Head here . Not a subscriber? You can sign up here . You know what did happen, though? A global supply chain and manufacturing nightmare precipitated by tariffs, the AI explosion, and, of course, the endless chaos of the video game industry. Oh, and there’s the relentless continuation of a trend that defines the modern toy industry: more and more toys and games are made for adults, who have a bunch of money, instead of kids, who don’t. Chris and I talked about that quite a bit, and I think his point of view is at once totally logical and also completely surprising. Chris and I also talked a lot about Hasbro investing so heavily in games and digital media. For example, you’ll hear Chris mention several times how big the mobile game Monopoly Go is for Hasbro. And while Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons are already huge, load-bearing brands, Hasbro is also trying to expand more i...
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