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Main Authors: Li, Alice, Sinnamon, Luanne
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.14034
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author Li, Alice
Sinnamon, Luanne
author_facet Li, Alice
Sinnamon, Luanne
contents This paper reports on an audit study of generative AI systems (ChatGPT, Bing Chat, and Perplexity) which investigates how these new search engines construct responses and establish authority for topics of public importance. We collected system responses using a set of 48 authentic queries for 4 topics over a 7-day period and analyzed the data using sentiment analysis, inductive coding and source classification. Results provide an overview of the nature of system responses across these systems and provide evidence of sentiment bias based on the queries and topics, and commercial and geographic bias in sources. The quality of sources used to support claims is uneven, relying heavily on News and Media, Business and Digital Media websites. Implications for system users emphasize the need to critically examine Generative AI system outputs when making decisions related to public interest and personal well-being.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2405_14034
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Generative AI Search Engines as Arbiters of Public Knowledge: An Audit of Bias and Authority
Li, Alice
Sinnamon, Luanne
Information Retrieval
Human-Computer Interaction
This paper reports on an audit study of generative AI systems (ChatGPT, Bing Chat, and Perplexity) which investigates how these new search engines construct responses and establish authority for topics of public importance. We collected system responses using a set of 48 authentic queries for 4 topics over a 7-day period and analyzed the data using sentiment analysis, inductive coding and source classification. Results provide an overview of the nature of system responses across these systems and provide evidence of sentiment bias based on the queries and topics, and commercial and geographic bias in sources. The quality of sources used to support claims is uneven, relying heavily on News and Media, Business and Digital Media websites. Implications for system users emphasize the need to critically examine Generative AI system outputs when making decisions related to public interest and personal well-being.
title Generative AI Search Engines as Arbiters of Public Knowledge: An Audit of Bias and Authority
topic Information Retrieval
Human-Computer Interaction
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.14034