A Scoping Review of the Ethical Perspectives on Anthropomorphising Large Language Model-Based Conversational Agents

TL;DR

This paper reviews ethical perspectives on anthropomorphising large language model chatbots, highlighting conceptual debates, ethical challenges, and the need for empirical research to inform governance and design.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive scoping review of ethically oriented research on anthropomorphising LLM-based conversational agents, identifying gaps and proposing future directions.

Findings

Convergence on attribution-based definitions of anthropomorphisation.

Divergence in operationalization across studies.

Limited empirical work linking interaction effects to governance.

Abstract

Anthropomorphisation -- the phenomenon whereby non-human entities are ascribed human-like qualities -- has become increasingly salient with the rise of large language model (LLM)-based conversational agents (CAs). Unlike earlier chatbots, LLM-based CAs routinely generate interactional and linguistic cues, such as first-person self-reference, epistemic and affective expressions that empirical work shows can increase engagement. On the other hand, anthropomorphisation raises ethical concerns, including deception, overreliance, and exploitative relationship framing, while some authors argue that anthropomorphic interaction may support autonomy, well-being, and inclusion. Despite increasing interest in the phenomenon, literature remains fragmented across domains and varies substantially in how it defines, operationalizes, and normatively evaluates anthropomorphisation. This scoping review maps ethically oriented work on anthropomorphising LLM-based CAs across five databases and three preprint repositories. We synthesize (1) conceptual foundations, (2) ethical challenges and opportunities, and (3) methodological approaches. We find convergence on attribution-based definitions but substantial divergence in operationalization, a predominantly risk-forward normative framing, and limited empirical work that links observed interaction effects to actionable governance guidance. We conclude with a research agenda and design/governance recommendations for ethically deploying anthropomorphic cues in LLM-based conversational agents.