Adolescents & Anthropomorphic AI: Rethinking Design for Wellbeing An Evidence-Informed Synthesis for Youth Wellbeing and Safety

Abstract: Conversational AI has become part of adolescents' everyday lives. This report asks: what does AI owe adolescents when it can speak to them like a social partner? The synthesis bridges the gap between developmental science and industry practice through consultations, a behavioral framework, and global policy dialogue. It identies non- negotiable guardrails and highlights the role of anthropomorphism as a design lever for risk mitigation, ensuring systems support adolescents' autonomy and skill development.