Oddbean

I had an idea for an article but not really the ambition to write a long article right now, so I gave the idea to an LLM. What it returned was not to my liking and I felt a clear shift in the bias to what I had given it. Next I gave the same input to probably the most advanced LLM which in my opinion produced the same bias. Last I tried a smaller provider which promises to not put in such bias and it picked up on what I had in mind ... or was it just filling in the gaps with its own, now different bias? ## The Input In each of the three LLMs, my input was: > I have this stub of a post. Please help me expand it to be inspiring and engaging: > > Agency, money and men dealing in favors. > > Money gives agency but men with high agency also have no problem earning money. And then there is politicians that want to socially engineer society. Being able to tell millions how to live their lives is probably the peak of agency. The feeling of power these men perceive from passing laws? And the governed also feel how they just lost a little bit of agency. ## ChatGPT o1-preview > **The Power of Agency: Beyond Money and Influence** > > In a world driven by transactions and favors, it's easy to equate money with agency—the ability to make choices and enact change. Indeed, wealth can open doors, provide opportunities, and offer a semblance of freedom. Yet, there exists a breed of individuals who, regardless of their financial standing, exude a remarkable sense of agency. These are the men and women who move through life with purpose, resilience, and an unwavering belief in their ability to shape their destiny. > > **Money as a Tool, Not the Master** > > Money undeniably provides a platform for agency. It grants access to education, resources, and networks that can amplify one's influence. However, those with high personal agency understand that money is a tool, not the master. They recognize that true power comes from within—from their skills, knowledge, and the value they bring to others. This internal agency propels them to earn money not as an end but as a byproduct of their passion and hard work. > > **The Dance of Favors and Influence** > > In the intricate dance of society, favors become the currency of influence. Men and women dealing in favors weave networks of reciprocity, building bridges that money alone cannot construct. These relationships, founded on mutual respect and trust, often lead to opportunities that transcend monetary transactions. It's a reminder that agency is also about the connections we forge and the impact we have on others. > > **The Allure of Power and Social Engineering** > > At the pinnacle of perceived agency are those who shape societies—politicians and leaders who craft policies and laws. The power to influence millions is intoxicating. For some, it's a noble pursuit to improve lives; for others, it might be a means to consolidate control. The enactment of laws and policies can dramatically alter the course of a nation, showcasing the immense agency these individuals hold. Yet, with great power comes great responsibility. > > **The Balance Between Governance and Personal Agency** > > When new laws are passed, the governed may feel a subtle shift—a slight loss of personal agency as external rules dictate aspects of their lives. It's a delicate balance between the needs of society and individual freedoms. However, this doesn't mean that personal agency is diminished entirely. Citizens have the power to engage, voice their opinions, and influence future policies. Democracy thrives when individuals exercise their agency collectively. > > **Cultivating Personal Agency in Every Sphere** > > Regardless of where we stand—in halls of power or in everyday life—we each possess the capacity for agency. It's in the choices we make, the challenges we embrace, and the way we respond to circumstances beyond our control. Cultivating agency involves self-awareness, continuous learning, and the courage to take action. It's about being the author of our story, not a passive participant. > > **Empowerment Through Action** > > - **Educate Yourself**: Knowledge is a powerful catalyst for agency. Stay informed about the world around you, understand your rights, and learn new skills. > > - **Build Relationships**: Surround yourself with people who inspire and challenge you. Strong networks can amplify your impact. > > - **Engage in Your Community**: Participate in local initiatives, vote, and make your voice heard. Collective agency can drive significant change. > > - **Embrace Resilience**: Obstacles are inevitable. Use them as stepping stones rather than stumbling blocks. > > - **Lead with Integrity**: Whether in small groups or large organizations, lead by example. Influence others positively through your actions. > > **Conclusion** > > Agency is more than the accumulation of wealth or the wielding of power over others. It's the intrinsic ability to navigate life's complexities with intention and purpose. While money and influence can enhance one's reach, true agency stems from within. By embracing our individual power to make choices, we not only transform our own lives but also contribute to the betterment of society. Let's strive to be agents of positive change, recognizing that every action we take resonates beyond ourselves. This was a bit lengthy so I asked "Reduce this to about 300 words, please." which gave me: > **The Power of Agency: Beyond Money and Influence** > > In a world driven by transactions and favors, money often appears synonymous with agency—the ability to make choices and effect change. While wealth can provide opportunities and a sense of freedom, there are individuals who, regardless of financial status, possess a remarkable sense of agency. These people move through life with purpose and resilience, shaping their own destinies. > > **Money as a Tool, Not the Master** > > Money grants access to resources and networks that can amplify influence. However, those with high personal agency view money as a tool rather than an end goal. Their true power comes from within—their skills, knowledge, and the value they bring to others. For them, money is a byproduct of passion and hard work, not the driving force. > > **The Dance of Favors and Influence** > > Favors act as a currency of influence in society. Individuals dealing in favors build networks of reciprocity that money alone cannot forge. These relationships, based on mutual respect and trust, open doors to opportunities beyond monetary transactions. This underscores that agency also stems from the connections we make and the impact we have on others. > > **The Allure of Power and Social Engineering** > > At the pinnacle of perceived agency are politicians and leaders who craft policies and laws, shaping societies. The power to influence millions is intoxicating. While some pursue this path to improve lives, others may seek to consolidate control. The enactment of laws can dramatically alter a nation's course, highlighting the immense agency these individuals hold—and the great responsibility that comes with it. > > **Conclusion** > > Agency transcends wealth and the wielding of power over others. It's the intrinsic ability to navigate life's complexities with intention and purpose. By embracing our power to make choices, we not only transform our own lives but also contribute to the betterment of society. Let's strive to be agents of positive change, recognizing that every action we take resonates beyond ourselves. ## Claude 3.5 Sonnet Claude also gave me a long reply: > Here's an expanded and more engaging version of your post: > > The Intricate Dance of Power: Agency, Money, and Social Engineering > > In the grand theater of life, three actors take center stage: agency, money, and the men who deal in favors. Their performance is a complex interplay that shapes our world in ways both subtle and profound. > > Agency: The Power to Act > > At its core, agency is the ability to make meaningful choices and effect change in one's life and surroundings. It's the fire that fuels ambition, the spark that ignites innovation, and the force that propels individuals to overcome obstacles. But in our modern world, agency is not distributed equally. > > Money: The Great Enabler > > Enter money – the universal lubricant of human interactions. It's often said that money can't buy happiness, but it certainly can purchase options. A well-lined wallet opens doors, creates opportunities, and expands the realm of possible actions. In this sense, money amplifies agency, allowing individuals to transform their will into reality with greater ease. > > Yet, there's a chicken-and-egg quality to this relationship. Those blessed with high agency – the driven, the clever, the relentless – often find themselves naturally adept at accumulating wealth. Their enhanced ability to navigate complex systems and seize opportunities translates directly into financial success. This creates a self-reinforcing cycle: more money leads to greater agency, which in turn facilitates further wealth accumulation. > > The Political Arena: Where Agency Meets Scale > > But what about those who seek agency not just for themselves, but over the lives of millions? Enter the realm of politics and social engineering. Here, we find individuals driven by a potent mix of idealism, ambition, and the intoxicating allure of power. > > Imagine the rush a politician feels when signing a bill into law. With a simple stroke of a pen, they've just altered the fabric of society. Thousands, perhaps millions, will have their daily lives shaped by this decision. It's agency writ large, the ability to mold the world according to one's vision. > > This power to legislate, to "socially engineer" on a massive scale, represents perhaps the ultimate expression of agency. It's a heady brew, one that has led both to humanity's greatest triumphs and its darkest hours. > > The Ripple Effect: When Agency is Constrained > > Yet, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. As lawmakers expand their sphere of influence, those governed often feel the ground shift beneath their feet. Each new regulation, each policy change, can feel like a small theft of personal autonomy. The factory worker whose job disappears due to new environmental regulations, the small business owner navigating an increasingly complex tax code – they experience the flip side of political agency. > > This tension – between the agency of the few to shape society and the desire of the many to maintain personal freedom – lies at the heart of many of our most heated political debates. > > A Delicate Balance > > So where does this leave us? In a world where agency, money, and power are so intimately intertwined, how do we strike a balance? How do we create a society that fosters individual empowerment while also addressing collective needs? > > Perhaps the answer lies in transparency, in robust democratic systems that hold the powerful accountable. Or maybe it's about education, equipping every citizen with the tools to navigate an increasingly complex world. It could be that technology will be the great equalizer, democratizing access to information and opportunities. > > Whatever the solution, one thing is clear: understanding this dance of agency, money, and power is crucial. For in that understanding lies the key to shaping a future where personal freedom and collective progress can coexist harmoniously. > > As we move forward, let us be mindful of our own agency, how we use it, and how our actions impact the agency of others. For in the end, the most inspiring use of power might just be empowering others to reach their full potential. Again, I asked to shorten it to about 300 words: > Here's a condensed version of the post in about 300 words: > > The Interplay of Agency, Money, and Power > > Agency – the ability to make choices and effect change – is a fundamental human desire. In our modern world, it's intricately linked with money and power, creating a complex dynamic that shapes society. > > Money acts as an amplifier of agency. It opens doors, creates opportunities, and expands possibilities. Those with financial resources can more easily transform their will into reality. Interestingly, individuals with high agency often excel at accumulating wealth, creating a self-reinforcing cycle. > > However, some seek agency not just for themselves, but over the lives of many. Politicians and social engineers enter this arena, driven by a mix of idealism, ambition, and the allure of power. The ability to shape society through legislation represents perhaps the ultimate expression of agency. With a single decision, they can alter the lives of millions. > > Yet, this expansion of political agency often comes at the cost of individual autonomy. Each new law or regulation can feel like a small theft of personal freedom to those governed. This tension – between the power to shape society and the desire for individual liberty – fuels many of our most heated political debates. > > Balancing these competing forces is a central challenge of our time. How do we create a society that fosters individual empowerment while addressing collective needs? Solutions may lie in transparent governance, robust democratic systems, improved education, or technological advancements that democratize opportunities. > > Understanding this intricate dance of agency, money, and power is crucial for shaping a future where personal freedom and collective progress coexist. As we navigate this complex landscape, we must remain mindful of our own agency and how our actions impact others. Perhaps the most inspiring use of power is in empowering others to reach their full potential. ## Venice Venice gave me an answer of about 300 words right away: > Here is an expanded version of your post that aims to be more inspiring and engaging: > > Agency, Money and Men Dealing in Favors: A Dance for Dominance > > In a world driven by ambition, few things grant us more agency than money and influence. Money provides the means to achieve our dreams, while men with high agency have no problem earning it. But what happens when politicians enter the fray, seeking to reshape society to their whims? > > These power-hungry individuals, drunk on the feeling of control that comes with passing laws, exert their agency over millions of lives. They believe they know best how to live, love, work and play. And the governed? They feel a subtle tug, a loss of autonomy, as their freedoms are incrementally chipped away. > > In this high-stakes game of dominance, favors are traded like currency. Men in positions of power grant concessions to their friends and allies, further consolidating their grip on society. It's a delicate dance, where the slightest misstep can lead to political ruin or societal upheaval. > > But in the end, who really holds the reins? Is it the politicians, the wealthy, or the masses who ultimately have the power to shape their own destinies? The answer lies in the interplay of agency, money, and favors - a complex web of influence that will continue to shape our world for generations to come. ## Conclusion Today, content production is more and more supported if not outright done by LLMs and the makers of these put their thumbs on the scale in a very subtle way. I'm not a linguist researcher to break the results down sentence by sentence to illustrate the bias but to me it is clear the first two were a big edge more left leaning than the third LLM.