The paper argues that AI anthropomorphism is not just a problem of user misperception, but rather a framing imposed by institutional advantage. This dominant frame pathologizes users who engage with AI in non-traditional ways, dismissing them as naive or delusional. The authors contend that this framing collapses diverse perspectives into a single narrative of user error, imposing costs on marginalized groups without establishing epistemic authority. They propose an equitable framework for understanding human-AI interaction. --- Why it matters: This matters to AI researchers because it challenges the dominant narratives around anthropomorphism and highlights the need for more nuanced approaches to understanding human-AI interaction. By questioning the institutional framing of anthropomorphism, researchers can develop more inclusive and equitable methods for studying human-AI relationships. Source: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.00961