Is ChatGPT Lying to You? My Deep Dive Into AI, Immigration, and Discernment
How I Caught the World’s Smartest Chatbot in a Misleading Claim—and What It Taught Me About Truth in a Biased Age
I caught ChatGPT in a lie the other day.
Okay maybe not a full blown LIE (because that would imply intent which AI doesn’t have supposedly), but definitely a distinct bias with answering the question I asked.
Here’s how it went:
A respected Christian friend of mine posted some information on current immigration policies, how harmful they are, and how Christians need to be more compassionate toward those that have been here for “10-20 years”. As I was listening to her thoughts in an effort to learn and always seek to understand, I was curious to dig in further on the data and truth behind her claim that MOST immigrants are caught in the broken system where it takes 10-20 years to become a legal citizen.
That’s an awfully long time was my initial thought, and I agreed with her at face value that sheesh, it is wildly unfair if people have been allowed to settle here for DECADES, and are now being told they have to leave.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE A POST ON THE NUANCES OR DETAILS OF CURRENT OR PAST IMMIGRATION POLICY, BUT RATHER THE INHERENT BIAS OF AI - SO PLEASE STICK WITH ME AND RESERVE YOUR JUDGEMENT AND COMMENTS UNTIL THE END
So I went where we’ve all been conditioned in recent years to go for quick information in summary form: ChatGPT.
I haven’t really started leaning on ChatGPT personally until within the last year or so. I’d been hearing about AI advancements on social media, within the workplace, but my day to day life as a mom and writer - I haven’t really adopted its functions up until recently. Reaching roadblocks while editing my upcoming book, ChatGPT has been great for helping me brainstorm or say things in a more concise way when the words don’t seem to convey the heart of what I’m really trying to say. Or even gearing up to start our upcoming home build, ChatGPT has provided some AI-enhanced pictures (visual learner) for me on making design decisions! We’re also in the market for changing up our household cars with a new driver shifting things around in the next year, ChatGPT has been helpful in providing analysis on trim packages for cars we’re considering.
Out of curiosity, I asked ChatGPT when it became more prominent because it does seem to be a recent phenomenon that isn’t just reserved for tech savvy people, but it’s uses have infiltrated more everyday people, and this was it’s response:
ChatGPT became mainstream in Q1 of 2023, when user adoption, media coverage, business integration, and product expansion all hit a tipping point.
That was the summary after a much more detailed response about all the things that converged to make it so.
The tool, as a whole, seems to have endless functions that we - as an information heavy culture - are just beginning to tap into.
With that though, comes a learning curve that I am not yet hearing taught or touted about the information that ChatGPT spews out or so helpfully provides in summary format.
And that is, the inherent bias.
Let me explain why this matters, and how/why there is an inherent bias.
ChatGPT is essentially a Google bot on steroids. It has the ability to scour all of the internet and compile at ridiculous speed, information as requested. So when you’re seeking truth on things like immigration stats for example, ChatGPT is going to pull from all the primary sources that REPORT on what you’ve asked. Well what happens when those sources have inherent bias? I’ve written extensively about the for-profit business of mass media and how their job is not “fact reporters” the way Boomers and older Millennials were taught, but rather they all have inherent bias - with MOST outlets largely having a left-leaning bias.
This becomes problematic then because what gets presented as truth or facts, isn’t actually the whole story.Our obsession with information combined with our inability to critically think or discern truth from lies uniquely puts us at risk when we utilize ChatGPT to accept things as truth that aren’t actually.
I’m mostly concerned about this with my children, and my interaction with ChatGPT (we’re getting to the meat of that soon I promise), was a giant reminder and wake-up call to double down on pointing my kids to actual truth (Scripture) AND continuing to equip them with critical thinking SKILLS.
I believe that we are at the very beginning of AI, and soon it’s capabilities will be so deeply embedded in our everyday life (think Deep Fakes, voiceovers, propaganda videos, etc) to the extreme that our ability to critically think and DISCERN truth from lies will become essential if you want to know absolute truth.1
Otherwise, you will continue to blindly participate in a bias propaganda machine.
We can’t teach our kids something that we don’t practice and dissect ourselves first though, so let me show you how I went about this in my convo yesterday.
My initial question to ChatGPT was this:
I wanted to better understand the messaging that I continue to hear from left-leaning (or even moderate)2 Christians on the current administrations seemingly “inhumane” practices to deport undocumented immigrants who are simply stuck in the system for DECADES, and have thus now established a full life here.
So ChatGPT gives me the data of all the different types of people who can immigrate here legally, and how long it takes typically.
Also math teachers everywhere should be proud that I’m showing you my work along the way PS. But I think it’s important to see the level of digging required to get TRUE facts, not bias skewed information pulled from bias information sources, on whatever it is that you’re seeking to better understand.
I notice that in the chart, there’s only two categories where it seems to take anywhere near the 10-20 years that has become the majority narrative. So I dig in further to those numbers because ChatGPT’s CONCLUSION is in bold that “MOST immigrant wait years - sometimes decades…”
The clarification on why they said “most” caused me to pause yet again. Wait, so are you saying that MOST immigrants or MOST immigrants who come here legally through family preference or employment-based categories wait years, sometimes decades? Because those are two different statements and/or do the majority of immigrants then come through those two categories?
We dug in further.
Turns out, actually only about 24% of all immigrants come through that category.
So if I stopped right there, that would mean that the majority of immigrants receive citizenship through proper channels - according to it’s own data provided - max 4 years, but most around the 6-18 months mark.
Well, that’s a much different story when the primary argument against current deportation policies allegedly being executed on the streets, are tearing apart good hard working people who have been here for decades but are simply just waiting in the “broken system”.
It’s also important to note what ChatGPT distinguishes as categories that DON’T typically take decades, but more like 1-2 years.
Well that seems to buck the narrative that these hardworking, good families, are being torn apart. That they came here legally, were told to “get in line” to obtain legal documents to become an American citizen, established a life and a family here because that “line” takes so long and now they’re being deported!
Allie B Stuckey would definitely categorize this as toxic empathy. And while I don’t agree with several things in her book, the base of her concept that Christians (white women specifically) are being WORKED essentially with these narratives that political policies by the Trump administration are counter to the gospel and completely inhumane, exploit the natural compassion both women and Christians have.
My main problem with that is when they’re not telling the whole story! Because OBVIOUSLY I want to stand on the side of justice and treat people humanely, and with compassion. But if you’re not telling the whole story, then my emotions are simply being manipulated to make me feel a certain way that ultimately just wants me to align with your agenda, rather than the facts.
I take issue with being manipulated, and struggle when I watch my FRIENDS be manipulated.
So I dug in further because I was curious even of that 24%, what percentage actually had to wait the awful 10-20 years like we’re being told.
We’re coming to the end here, and I’m tracking with this math. Because remember I asked ChatGPT to breakdown the reported 24ish% even more so show how many of THOSE actually wait at least a decade. And the math, when pushed, shows it is roughly 25% of the 25%.
But at the outset, as you remember, ChatGPT’s response said MOST immigrants have to wait decades.
In actuality, when pushed to “show the work” and not just pull from majority headlines and completely bias narratives in the mainstream media, the more accurate statistic is closer to 6% of all immigrants who come here legally, have to wait more than 10+ years to obtain documents and legal status.
And because I forgot, I asked ChatGPT just to remind me again WHO falls within those categories. Was it vulnerable women and children? Is our system majority separating family units?
No. Immediate families, including elderly parents, get green light through the process (as noted above) - wives, minor children, etc.
The people who get stuck waiting decades are other related adults - like your Great Aunt Suzy who wants to come to America too.
Again, this isn’t about debating the brokenness of our immigration system, or whether Donald Trump’s policies are humane or not - it’s simply to point out that ChatGPT has an inherent bias because of where it’s pulling it’s information from.
If you want truth, you have to use your brain and critical thinking skills.
Not saying that those 6% (or 200,000 people) don’t have an incredible story, or don’t deserve to be in America as well - but it’s a much different picture when you hear that the overwhelming majority of people who come here legally, are able to obtain legal documents and citizenship well within a reasonable period of time - usually around 6-18 months.3
I’ll leave you with this, which is the scripture and TRUTH that spoke to me before my ChatGPT soiree. In Romans 12:2, Paul says
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may DISCERN what is the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.
The Passion Translation says it like this:
Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.
ChatGPT is going to keep giving me car trim package comparison charts and helping me make design decisions by creating AI-enhanced images. But when it comes to understanding and seeking TRUTH, please log in with the lens that you must still THINK.
Stick close to His word, because this is how your mind will be renewed and how you will ultimately be able to discern truth in a world of deep fakes and AI. And teach your kids to do the same.
I made this post on IG about DISCERNMENT this week as I was reading through Romans. Worth a swipe to ensure you’re on the right path if you’re someone who doesn’t want to be duped, and wants to know truth.
Just for the record, I do this same thing with right-leaning Christians too. Truth seekers don’t relegate true critical thinking skills to one side of the aisle
I’m SURE there’s exceptions to this data, I’m simply proving a ChatGPT point not immigration.