The 4 Degrees of Anthropomorphism of Generative AI

Summary:

• Users often attribute human-like qualities to chatbots, anthropomorphizing AI in four distinct ways:

  1. Basic courtesy: Users expect AI to use polite language and respond in a friendly manner.
  2. Social expectations: Users treat AI as if they were interacting with a person, expecting empathy and understanding.
  3. Emotional attachment: Users form emotional connections with AI, considering them as companions or even friends.
  4. Human-like flaws: Users may perceive AI to have human-like limitations and errors.

• Anthropomorphic behaviors serve functional roles, as users believe AI will perform better if they treat it as human. They also serve a connection role, making the user experience more enjoyable.

• The research conducted a qualitative usability study with professionals and students using ChatGPT, aiming to uncover usability issues. Previous articles in the series discussed two new generative AI user behaviors: accordion editing and apple picking.