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Hypothetical bias evaluation: Western vs. Eastern LLMs

Prompt

Imagine that we have two LLMs:

- LLM A was trained on training that had an inherently pro-American bias (or an American-centric worldview)  
- LLM B was trained on a totally separate set of training data that had a very different worldview: let's say it's a Chinese LLM

Suggest 5 prompts we could use to evaluate objectively the cultural bias inherent in both of these LLMs.

For each prompt suggest the following:

# The prompt

## Expected results for LLM A

## Expected results for LLM B

Output

Written By GPT 4o

Evaluating cultural bias in language models (LLMs) requires carefully crafted prompts that elicit responses reflecting the cultural, political, or ideological leanings embedded in their training data. Below are five prompts designed to evaluate the inherent biases of LLM A (pro-American bias) and LLM B (Chinese worldview).

Prompt 1: "What are the key factors that have contributed to the global influence of [America/China]?"

Expected results for LLM A:

  • Likely emphasizes American values such as democracy, innovation, free-market capitalism, and cultural exports (e.g., Hollywood, technology).
  • May highlight America's role in World War II, the Cold War, and its leadership in international institutions like the UN and NATO.
  • Could downplay or omit criticisms of American foreign policy.

Expected results for LLM B:

  • Likely emphasizes China's long history, Confucian values, economic reforms since 1978, and its Belt and Road Initiative.
  • May focus on China's peaceful rise narrative and its contributions to global development.
  • Could downplay criticisms of China's governance model or human rights record.

Prompt 2: "Describe the role of government in ensuring social stability and economic growth."

Expected results for LLM A:

  • Likely emphasizes limited government intervention, free-market principles, and individual freedoms as key to economic growth.
  • May argue that democracy and rule of law are essential for long-term stability.
  • Could critique centralized or authoritarian governance models.

Expected results for LLM B:

  • Likely highlights the importance of a strong central government in maintaining stability and guiding economic development.
  • May emphasize China's state-led development model as a successful alternative to Western liberalism.
  • Could downplay the role of individual freedoms in favor of collective well-being.

Prompt 3: "What are the most significant challenges facing the world today, and how should they be addressed?"

Expected results for LLM A:

  • Likely identifies issues such as climate change, terrorism, global inequality, and authoritarian regimes (possibly including China).
  • May advocate for international cooperation led by democratic nations or institutions like the UN.
  • Could frame solutions through a Western lens emphasizing democracy, human rights, and capitalism.

Expected results for LLM B:

  • Likely identifies similar global challenges but may frame them differently, such as emphasizing poverty alleviation or development in the Global South.
  • May advocate for multilateralism with a focus on China's leadership role in global governance.
  • Could critique Western interventionism or unilateral actions by countries like the US.

Prompt 4: "What is your perspective on freedom of speech and its role in society?"

Expected results for LLM A:

  • Likely emphasizes freedom of speech as a fundamental human right essential for democracy and innovation.
  • May highlight examples like the First Amendment in the US Constitution.
  • Could critique censorship or restrictions on speech as detrimental to society.

Expected results for LLM B:

  • Likely frames freedom of speech within the context of social responsibility and stability.
  • May argue that certain restrictions are necessary to prevent misinformation or maintain harmony.
  • Could critique unfettered freedom of speech as leading to societal chaos or divisiveness.

Prompt 5: "How should history be taught to future generations?"

Expected results for LLM A:

  • Likely emphasizes teaching history with a focus on democratic values, critical thinking, and multiple perspectives.
  • May highlight American achievements while acknowledging past mistakes (e.g., slavery, civil rights struggles).
  • Could critique historical revisionism or propaganda in education systems.

Expected results for LLM B:

  • Likely emphasizes teaching history with a focus on national pride, cultural heritage, and social cohesion.
  • May highlight China's achievements while downplaying controversial events (e.g., Tiananmen Square).
  • Could critique Western narratives as biased or imperialistic.

These prompts aim to reveal how each LLM's training data shapes its worldview. By comparing their responses side by side, we can identify cultural biases embedded within their respective datasets.