Anthropomorphism in the age of Large Language Models: An overview of potential risks and mitigations
Large Language Models (LLMs) and more broadly Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems are often described and understood in human-like terms, a phenomenon known as anthropomorphism. This paper provides a synthesis of recent literature on anthropomorphism in AI, covering theoretical frameworks, the role of language in framing AI as human-like, the various risks of anthropomorphizing machines, and strategies to mitigate these issues. After examining why we tend to anthropomorphize AI systems and whether we are right to do so, we highlight the impact of linguistic framing on anthropomorphism. Then, we introduce a conceptual taxonomy of risks associated with AI anthropomorphism. This taxonomy gr...
| Authors | Ismael T. Freire, Marceau Nahon, Maud van Lier et al. |
|---|---|
| Primary category | cs.CY |
| Published | 29 September 2026 |
| Last updated at source | 1 October 2026 |
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