Exploring the attraction of AI companions: how perceived anthropomorphism, empathy, and system curiosity shape young Chinese users’ behavioral intention within an extended TAM framework

Although artificial intelligence (AI) companions are increasingly integrated into daily life, their acceptance mechanisms, particularly among Chinese young adults, remain underexplored. This study proposes and tests an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) incorporating perceived anthropomorphism (PA), perceived empathy (PE), and perceived system curiosity (PSC) to explain Chinese young adults' behavioral intentions toward AI companions following initial exposure. Based on survey data from 344 participants, CB-SEM was used for hypothesis testing. Results indicate that PA significantly affects perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), behavioral intention (BI), and PE; PE influences PU and BI but not PEOU; and PSC affects PEOU and BI, though not PU. The original TAM relationships remain valid. Additionally, gender, use experience, and loneliness were associated with significant differences in several user perceptions and behavioral intention. The findings suggest that emotional and relational attributes-human-likeness, empathy, and curiosity-are critical in shaping AI companion adoption. The study extends TAM to early-stage affective contexts, providing insights for designing emotionally intelligent and adaptive AI companions.