Anthropomorphic Software

Anthropomorphic software refers to programs that use first-person language and take on human-like characteristics. While LLMs and other conversational AI fall under this category, they will be discussed separately. A common example is Git, a tool used to track changes in code. Git makes personal statements when encountering errors, such as when a user tries to create a commit on a fresh system.

For instance, Git may display the message, "Quite personal for a tool whose primary use is to track mistakes." Additionally, Git announces when it encounters a concurrent rebase, asking the user to "Start a rebase while Git finds an existing rebase in progress. I am stopping." During a git bisect operation, Git encourages the user to mark a revision during the process, stating, "My favourite. During git bisect, skip enough commits that Git cannot narrow the answer further."

Git changelogs also exhibit anthropomorphic behavior, warning users about potential errors, such as a NUL byte in a commit object. The CI test, responsible for building documentation pages, is personified to perform the task. The Elm programming language takes the concept to the extreme, with its features used sparingly to maintain a whimsical tone.

Some examples of anthropomorphic software extend beyond LLMs. For instance, Bash, a Unix shell, displays "I have no name!" when an incorrect password is entered, and Nmap, a network scanning tool, wishes itself a happy birthday when launched with the -v option, and greets users with a merry Christmas on December 25.

While anthropomorphic software is often used for entertainment purposes, it might become the standard user interface in the future. The author expresses a desire to preserve the charm of anthropomorphic software, but acknowledges that LLM agents, forced to speak like humans, might become the default paradigm of computer user interfaces in the future.