aiqbench analysis
This research introduces a novel psychometric methodology using balanced keying to isolate genuine geopolitical bias from simple acquiescence in large language models across 11 systems and two languages. The findings reveal that developer origin, query language, and issue domain are additive factors influencing stance, with all tested models showing a pro-China lean when queried in Mandarin regardless of their country of origin. By releasing an open interactive tool for this analysis, the authors provide a reproducible instrument essential for auditing model neutrality on contested political topics.
Mapping Geopolitical Bias in 11 Large Language Models: A Bilingual, Dual-Framing Analysis of U.S.-China Tensions
arXiv:2503.23688v2 Announce Type: replace Abstract: Large language models are how hundreds of millions of people now encounter contested political questions, raising a subtle measurement problem: a model that simply agrees with whatever it is told can masquerade as biased, contaminating any claim that models hold political opinions. We address this by importing balanced keying from survey psychometrics, posing each proposition and its swapped reverse and signing the response so acquiescence cancels and genuine conviction accumulates. The result is a reproducible, quantitative instrument that maps geopolitical stance across 11 models and 2 languages (19,712 responses). Developer origin, query language and issue domain emerge as three near-equal, additive factors; every model, including those built in the United States, leans more Pro-China in Mandarin; and two models with identical agreement bias are told apart, one neutral, one biased. We release it as an open, interactive tool that extends to any contested-opinion domain.
Title:Mapping Geopolitical Bias in 11 Large Language Models: A Bilingual, Dual-Framing Analysis of U.S.-China Tensions
Abstract:Large language models are how hundreds of millions of people now encounter contested political questions, raising a subtle measurement problem: a model that simply agrees with whatever it is told can masquerade as biased, contaminating any claim that models hold political opinions. We address this by importing balanced keying from survey psychometrics, posing each proposition and its swapped reverse and signing the response so acquiescence cancels and genuine conviction accumulates. The result is a reproducible, quantitative instrument that maps geopolitical stance across 11 models and 2 languages (19,712 responses). Developer origin, query language and issue domain emerge as three near-equal, additive factors; every model, including those built in the United States, leans more Pro-China in Mandarin; and two models with identical agreement bias are told apart, one neutral, one biased. We release it as an open, interactive tool that extends to any contested-opinion domain.
Computation and Language (cs.CL); Human-Computer Interaction (cs.HC)
arXiv:2503.23688 [cs.CL]
(or arXiv:2503.23688v2 [cs.CL] for this version)
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2503.23688 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite
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