Anthropomorphism in AI-enabled technology : A literature review

Research advances in artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities have resulted in intelligent and humanlike AI-enabled technology (AIET). The concept of anthropomorphism—the attribution of human characteristics to nonhuman beings or entities—has received increasing attention from academia and industries. However, research on anthropomorphism in the AIET context is relatively new and fragmented, with limited efforts to evaluate current research or consolidate existing knowledge. To bridge this gap, this descriptive literature review of 55 studies seeks to identify research trends, AIET types, theoretical foundations, and methods. The study also analyzes how anthropomorphism has been conceptualized and operationalized in the AIET context, and the thematic analysis identifies research gaps and suggests future explorations. The proposed conceptual framework for exploring the interplay of anthropomorphism with its antecedents and consequences provides a nomological network for future research.