Recent progress in AI has empowered chatbots to excel in language comprehension and processing. The advancements in machine learning algorithms and advanced natural language processing methods have completely revolutionized the capabilities of these chatbots. Anthropomorphism plays a major role in this trend, where non-human entities are given human qualities. This practice is widely adopted by platform providers to facilitate interaction between humans and machines through chatbots, which are designed with human-like characteristics such as names, faces, voices, and personalities. This study investigates the role of anthropomorphic factors in shaping consumer trust and acceptance of AI-driven chatbots. Through a comprehensive analysis of various independent studies, this work examines how chatbots’ human-like attributes, can positively influence consumer trust and preference for automated assistance over human intervention. The research comprises 5353 respondents across 14 individual independent studies from varying regions and domains to identify commonalities and trends within the context of anthropomorphism and chatbot adoption. The research determined that there is a positive impact of anthropomorphic features on chatbot adoption. These features include perceived warmth and competence, communication styles, appearance and visual cues, and human-like interaction. The research offers valuable insights for businesses and chatbot developers aiming to cultivate positive consumer interactions with automated systems, highlighting the complexity and importance of anthropomorphic design in chatbot adoption and efficacy. Several research gaps have also been identified and discussed within the context of anthropomorphism in chatbot adoption.