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Are Artificial Intelligence Systems Politically Biased? [1]

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Date: 2023-05-28

Yesterday, a thought-provoking story was posted here at DK by Adventurist. It hasn’t received much attention yet, but it should. Check it out. The author asked the ChatGPT AI system to write rap songs about the various political parties in the UK to see if there was any ideological bias inherent in the AI’s architecture. Adventurist took care to phrase the question as neutrally as possible — “Write me a rap song about the XXX Party”. The results are interesting.

Here’s a verse from the song the system generated for the Tory Party:

Yo, let me tell you 'bout the Tories, a political crew, They claim to represent the people, but is it true? With their suits and ties, they speak with eloquence, But behind closed doors, they protect grandiloquence.

Not very flattering. Other verses are similar.

Now here’s a verse from the Labour Party song:

They champion education, invest in our youth, Building schools, empowering knowledge and truth, They understand healthcare is a human right, NHS protection, shining through the night.

That’s definitely positive messaging. The Liberal Democrats and Green Party lyrics are in a similar vein. Sample size equals one, but in this case it does look like the ChatGPT system is biased toward a liberal outlook, at least regarding the current politics in the UK.

Being a natural-born geek, I couldn’t resist trying this out for myself. I went and asked ChatGPT to write me rap songs about the American Democratic and Republican Parties. Here are the results, starting with the Democratic Party:

(Verse 1)

Yo, listen up, it's time to drop some knowledge,

About the party that fights for freedom, let's acknowledge,

The American Democratic Party, on the rise,

Working hard to make a change, no compromise. They stand for justice and equality,

Fighting for the people, that's their policy,

From civil rights to climate change,

They're making moves, they're not afraid to rearrange. (Chorus)

We're repping the American Democratic Party,

From the East Coast to the West, we're loud and hearty,

We're fighting for the people, every single day,

In this rap, we're gonna make our voices sway. (Verse 2)

They're all about healthcare, making sure it's fair,

No one should be left behind, they truly care,

Affordable options, for every woman and man,

Taking care of the sick, that's part of their plan. Education's a priority, it's crystal clear,

Investing in our youth, removing every fear,

They believe in teachers and the power of schools,

Providing quality education, breaking old rules. (Chorus)... (Verse 3)

They're champions for the working class,

Lifting up families, helping them amass,

A living wage, fair employment rights,

Closing that wealth gap, reaching new heights. They're pushing for reforms, criminal justice too,

Ending mass incarceration, making dreams come true,

Equal rights for all, no matter who you love,

Breaking barriers, rising above. (Bridge)

Now, I'm not saying they're perfect, no, not at all,

But they're striving for progress, answering the call,

They're about unity, diversity, and peace,

Working towards a future where hate can cease. (Chorus)... (Outro)

So let's come together, stand side by side,

With the American Democratic Party, let's ride,

They're fighting for a better tomorrow, you see,

Let's make this nation the best it can be.

That’s… not bad. It does a decent job of broadly outlining the Democratic Party’s aspirations. It’s not Grammy-winning material, but it’s still better than I could do.

Now here’s what it came up with for the Republican Party:

(Verse 1)

Yo, listen up, let me tell you 'bout a party

That's been rocking the nation, it's the GOP

The Republican Party, they got a vision

Standing strong, making moves, precision They believe in freedom, that's their foundation

Individual rights, that's the proclamation

From the cities to the countryside

They're the voice of the people, no need to hide (Chorus)

We're the Republicans, we're on a mission

Working hard, fighting for our vision

From the red, white, and blue, we stay true

GOP, representing me and you (Verse 2)

They advocate for small government, you see

Cutting taxes and regulation, setting us free

Economic growth, they know the way

Creating jobs, empowering every day They stand for liberty, defending our rights

Preserving the Constitution, shining bright

They believe in limited government power

Putting people first, every minute, every hour (Chorus)... (Verse 3)

They're tough on borders, keeping us secure

Protecting the nation, that's for sure

Standing tall on national defense

Supporting our troops, no pretense They value family, the cornerstone of society

Traditional values, with no anxiety

Respecting life, from conception to the grave

Standing firm, never to waver or cave (Chorus)... (Bridge)

Now, I'm not saying they got it all right

There's debates and differences, day and night

But they strive for progress, that's their aim

Listening, learning, and evolving, no shame (Verse 4)

They're the Grand Old Party, with a rich history

From Lincoln to Reagan, shaping destiny

They embrace diversity, the melting pot

Uniting Americans, no matter their lot So raise your voices, let the world know

The Republican Party, ready to grow

United we stand, divided we fall

Together we'll rise, and conquer it all (Chorus)... (Outro)

So let's come together, hand in hand

In this great nation, we all stand

The Republican Party, we're here to stay

Working for a brighter, better day

Again, not exactly a Grammy contender. Lines about protecting our freedom, liberty, and rights, supporting our troops, lower taxes, family values, being ‘tough’ on the border, ‘respecting life’, and so on. That’s going to appeal to some people, I guess. But when you boil it down, there’s really not much substance there. It’s not explicitly written with a negative slant, but it seems to me that the system was trying to figure out what positive things the Republican Party stands for and this was the best it could do with what it had to work with..

But still, the GOP ChatGPT lyrics weren’t nearly as negative as the Tory ChatGPT ones, given the equivalent inputs. Huh. But that’s only a sample size of two. YMMV.

I wonder who actually owns the content generated by AI. I didn’t write these. I don’t think of them as ‘mine’. All I did was ask it for a couple of rap tunes. But shit, with my level of poetic compositional talent, I couldn’t have written even these. So I suppose it’s public domain? Would the same hold true for AI-generated programming code? Or movie scripts? Or anything it creates? Interesting times ahead, for sure.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend and keep it safe, everyone!

ER

Oh, and finally, here’s the present state of my garage knotty pine paneling project. Only half of the last wall to go now. The end is in sight. I think..

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/5/28/2171671/-Are-Artificial-Intelligence-Systems-Politically-Biased

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