Researchers Anthropomorphize AI Models During Development

@saranormous· July 21, 2026 View original

Summary

The observation highlights a peculiar trend where AI researchers describe models as having "personalities" or "preferences" during their development, such as "things pretraining likes." This anthropomorphic language raises questions about how we perceive and interact with AI.

An interesting observation points out the tendency among AI researchers to use anthropomorphic language when discussing models in development. Phrases like "things pretraining likes" are used to describe a model's emergent behaviors or tendencies. This linguistic choice suggests a deeper, perhaps subconscious, way of relating to complex AI systems, attributing human-like qualities to their computational processes. It prompts reflection on the evolving relationship between humans and advanced AI.

Why it matters

Understanding how AI is conceptualized and discussed by its creators can influence public perception, ethical considerations, and the design philosophy of future AI systems. It highlights the human element in AI development.

How to implement this in your domain

  1. 1Reflect on your own language when discussing AI systems to ensure clarity and avoid unintended anthropomorphism.
  2. 2Educate teams on the importance of precise terminology when describing AI capabilities and limitations.
  3. 3Consider the psychological impact of anthropomorphic language on user expectations and trust in AI.
  4. 4Develop guidelines for communicating about AI that balance technical accuracy with accessibility.

Who benefits

AI ResearchEthics & GovernanceTech CommunicationProduct Development

Key takeaways

  • Researchers sometimes use anthropomorphic language for AI models.
  • Terms like "personalities" or "preferences" are observed.
  • This linguistic trend influences perception of AI.
  • It highlights the human-AI interaction dynamic.

Original post by @saranormous

"is kinda weird when researchers describe models as having personalities in development (“things pretraining likes”)"

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Originally posted by @saranormous on X · view source

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