Human-AI Interaction: An Analysis of Anthropomorphization and User Engagement in Conversational Agents with a Focus on ChatGPT

Abstract: Anthropomorphism, the attribution of human-like characteristics to non-human entities, and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) or Human-AI Interaction (HAI) have become a significant topic of interest in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with the rise of Large Language Models (LLMs). From this scenario, this article examines the concept of anthropomorphism in the context of chatbots, especially ChatGPT. Drawing on a range of contemporary research and use cases, various implications, benefits, challenges, and ethical considerations associated with anthropomorphism in AI are explored. The findings highlight the potential benefits of anthropomorphism in enhancing user engagement, trust, and acceptance. However, challenges such as overreliance, privacy concerns, and accuracy issues need to be addressed. Answer-Bot Effect and other psychological mechanisms experienced in HCI with ChatGPT reinforce the Computer-Are-Social-Actors paradigm, the Attachment Theory and the Media Equation hypothesis. Ethical considerations are crucial in ensuring responsible development and deployment of anthropomorphic AI systems. Frameworks such as HCAI, IFA, SPADE or SEEK can be of help in ensuring that the development and deployment of such models are responsible and ethical. The need for further research to understand the full potential and limitations of anthropomorphism in Conversational Agents is emphasized, particularly in the context of ChatGPT and Smart Personal Assistants (SPAs).

Keywords: anthropomorphism, ChatGPT, artificial intelligence, large language models, human-AI interaction

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1004510

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