Purpose/Significance To discuss the application status and development characteristics of artificial intelligence (AI) conversational agents in the diagnosis and treatment of depression, and to provide practical suggestions for the design and application of AI conversational agents in the future. Method/Process Using the scope review method, the basic and functional characteristics of AI conversational agents in the screening and treatment of depression are summarized. Result/Conclusion The application of conversational agents in the diagnosis and treatment of depression has broad prospects, but it is still in the development stage, and there are some problems, such as the screening and treatment function verification is not rigorous, the difference exploration is not in-depth, and the evaluation mechanism is not unified and incomplete. The AI conversational agents in the future should be applications with strong emotional monitoring capabilities, accurate treatment decision making capabilities, and the ability to establish a good therapeutic relationship with patients.