Misgendering as Breakdown in Human-Machine Communication: How AI Companion Chatbot Users Experience and Repair Misgendering
Abstract
In recent years, large language model-based AI companion and role play chatbots have grown increasingly popular. People turn to these chatbots for emotional support and to engage in romantic and erotic role play. Although prior research suggests that digital role play can help people explore their gender and sexuality, LLM based technologies are also replete with gender and sexuality biases. In this study, we examine one way that AI chatbots can harm users: misgendering. In order to study chatbot misgendering we qualitatively analyzed 326 posts mentioning misgendering that were shared in AI companion or role play subreddits. We document how chatbot misgendering takes place and how, in response, users engage in ongoing work to curate their gender presentation to prevent and repair misgendering. We discuss how researchers and designers can mitigate chatbot misgendering and consider the implications of using AI chatbots for identity exploration.
