The internet is biased. Generative AI is based on the internet. Therefore, Generative AI output is biased. People crafting queries to input into to Generative AI (like ChatGPT, Gemini, Bard, or Co-pilot, just to name a few) must explicitly include instructions regarding diversity to get an unbiased result.
Specify Diverse Perspectives: Request that the generative AI include multiple viewpoints to avoid one-sided answers. You will get a different response if you enter “show me a factory floor” than if you say “show me a factory floor that includes employees of color, women, and people with disabilities.”
Clear and Neutral Language: You will get a biased result if your query contains biased language. Unambiguous and neutral questions avoid steering generative AI toward a particular result. If you ask about disabled people in wheelchairs, you will get exactly that answer, even though they represent a small fraction of people with disabilities overall.
Avoid Assumptions: State your request without assuming the AI’s knowledge or opinions. If there is a fact that you want your result based on, state it before entering the query. This is especially true if the facts are recent and may not be in the Large Language Model (LLM) the generative AI is based on. For example, ChatGPT 4o’s cutoff date is May 2023.
Balanced Phrasing: Frame your questions to explore different sides of an issue, such as “What are the benefits and drawbacks of…?”Remember, the process of refining your queries is not a one-time task. Be prepared to iterate and refine your questions if the initial response doesn’t align with your expectations. You don’t need to restate the entire question, just add the refinement. For example, you can request, ‘rewrite that output using plain language guidelines at a 10th-grade reading level.
By incorporating these practices into your query construction, you can maximize Generative AI capabilities while ensuring your requests yield unbiased and comprehensive responses.
Remember, it’s your job to ensure that anything you create through Generative AI is unbiased so that you don’t perpetuate Internet bias.
Alt: an image of a man opening a book with the caption: “And here we have a list of items you must add to to ChatGPT to get unbiased output”