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Anthropomorphic artificial intelligence systems are developing rapidly across many digital environments. Conversational companions, avatars, voice assistants, or relational chatbots are designed to simulate human traits such as empathy, personality, or relation continuity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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By introducing an emotional and social dimension into interaction, these systems profoundly transform the relationship between users and technology. This evolution nevertheless raises specific issues in terms of protection of individuals, risk management, and liability, as well as significant risks when these tools are used by vulnerable populations or in sensitive contexts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This article aims to clarify the notion of anthropomorphic AI, to present the main risks associated with these systems, and to analyze the first structuring regulatory responses, notably those formalized by China and the State of New York or California.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Anthropomorphism refers to the attribution of human characteristics to non-human entities. Applied to artificial intelligence, it consists in designing or presenting AI systems as if they possessed human traits, such as emotions, a personality, intentions, or relational capacity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Anthropomorphic AI is therefore not defined by a specific technology, but by a mode of interaction and representation. It relies on design choices (language, tone, relational memory, visual or vocal appearance) intended to make the AI closer, more familiar, or more engaging for the user. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The most common forms of anthropomorphic AI include in particular: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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These systems differ from traditional chatbots or assistants by their ability to simulate a relationship, and not solely to provide information or execute a task. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Anthropomorphism is first and foremost a lever for the adoption of AI technologies. By making interaction more natural and more intuitive, these systems can improve access to digital services, particularly for populations uncomfortable with traditional technical interfaces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Anthropomorphic AI systems can also help to: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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In some cases, these systems are presented as emotional support or well-being tools, which explains their rapid diffusion on the market. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The expected benefits nevertheless come with structuring risks, which justify specific oversight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Faced with the specific risks linked to anthropomorphic AI, certain jurisdictions have begun to develop targeted legal frameworks, recognizing that the simulation of human traits and emotional interaction constitute distinct risk factors. China, the State of New York, and California are among the most advanced actors, according to different regulatory logics that nevertheless converge in substance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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China is among the first jurisdictions to have defined and regulated anthropomorphic AI systems. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) published, on December 27, 2025, a draft Measures for the Management of Anthropomorphic Interactive AI Services, currently subject to public consultation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The measures target AI services designed to simulate human traits (personality, reasoning, communication) and to engage users in continuous emotional interactions, regardless of the media used (text, audio, video, avatars). These systems are now classified as sensitive infrastructures, due to their capacity to influence users\u2019 emotions, behaviors, and autonomy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Chinese framework notably imposes: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Anthropomorphic AI will not be banned in China, but strictly regulated, in order to remain predictable, controllable, and aligned with objectives of social stability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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In the United States, the State of New York seeks to adopt a more targeted approach through NY State Assembly Bill 2025-A6767, explicitly devoted to AI companions. Adopted by the State Assembly in March 2025 and then returned to it after review by the Senate in January 2026, the text has not entered into force, but rests on a central principle of prevention of individual harm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This text is based on the premise that companions, meaning systems designed to establish a prolonged social or emotional relationship with users, may generate serious and immediate risks. The bill prohibits the provision of an AI companion lacking protocols to address: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The law also provides for: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The New York approach is based on a duty of care principle: once a system is designed to interact on an emotional or relational register, its operator must anticipate potential harms and implement operational safeguards, without necessarily regulating all anthropomorphic design choices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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California is part of the movement to regulate companion chatbots with Senate Bill No. 243, which entered into force on January 1, 2026. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Californian framework adopts an approach centered on user protection and operator accountability, particularly when these systems may be perceived as human or address vulnerable populations. It notably requires: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Existing regulatory frameworks illustrate a fundamental trend: once an AI system is designed to interact on a social or emotional register, governance requirements must be strengthened. This logic applies beyond jurisdictions that have already legislated and concerns all organizations developing or deploying anthropomorphic AI. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Users must be able to clearly identify the artificial nature of the system, understand its purposes and the main lines of its functioning, as well as the use made of their data. This transparency must be integrated into the user experience and limit any affective confusion linked to excessively humanizing design choices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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When systems claim a role of emotional support or well-being, their scope of use must be explicitly defined and subject to independent evaluations, in order to avoid any implicit assimilation to therapeutic devices in the absence of an appropriate sectoral framework. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Anthropomorphic AI systems must also integrate safety protocols enabling the identification of situations of distress or dependence and, where necessary, referral to appropriate human resources. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Particular attention must be paid to vulnerable populations, notably minors and individuals in situations of psychological or social fragility. This implies usage restrictions, specific settings, and adapted warnings, in order to limit risks of emotional dependence or undue influence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Finally, credible governance relies on the ability to document incidents, audit systems, and ensure regular monitoring of safety measures. These traceability and reporting mechanisms constitute an essential foundation of responsibility, including in legal environments that remain weakly structured. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Anthropomorphic AI systems introduce particular risks linked to emotional interaction, perceptions of autonomy, and protection of individuals. Their deployment calls for steering mechanisms capable of closely monitoring agents, their behaviors, and their actual uses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Discover the Naaia platform<\/a>, designed to support organizations in steering their AI agents, managing associated risks, and anticipating regulatory frameworks applicable to anthropomorphic AI. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Anthropomorphic artificial intelligence systems are developing rapidly across many digital environments. Conversational companions, avatars, voice assistants, or relational chatbots are designed to simulate human traits such as empathy, personality, or relation continuity. By introducing an emotional and social dimension into interaction, these systems profoundly transform the relationship… Lire la suite<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":951,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-952","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ai-governance-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naaia.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/952","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naaia.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naaia.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naaia.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naaia.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=952"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/naaia.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/952\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2390,"href":"https:\/\/naaia.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/952\/revisions\/2390"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naaia.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/951"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naaia.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=952"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naaia.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=952"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naaia.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=952"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}