We introduce an Item Response Theory (IRT)-based framework to detect and quantify socioeconomic bias in large language models (LLMs) without relying on subjective human judgments. Unlike traditional methods, IRT accounts for item difficulty, improving ideological bias estimation. We fine-tune two LLM families (Meta-LLaMa 3.2-1B-Instruct and Chat- GPT 3.5) to represent distinct ideological positions and introduce a two-stage approach: (1) modeling response avoidance and (2) estimating perceived bias in answered responses. Our results show that off-the-shelf LLMs often avoid ideological engagement rather than exhibit bias, challenging prior claims of partisanship. This empirically validated framework enhances AI alignment research and promotes fairer AI governance.

By the time California state senators took up a bill Thursday night to grant unemployment benefits to striking workers, labor unions had already scored several monumental wins in the state Legislature. They landed a major deal to raise fast food wages to $20 an hour. They convinced lawmakers to pass a bill requiring driverless trucks to have a human safety driver. They persuaded the Democratic-led Legislature to send Gov. Gavin Newsom a bill giving all workers in California a minimum of five paid sick days -- up from the current requirement of three. So when the time came to vote on allowing striking workers to receive unemployment benefits, an exasperated Republican state senator rose to make the case that businesses wouldn't be able to stay afloat if their employees could get paid while on the picket line.

Starting today, the Privacy Center will stop using the terms "artificial intelligence," "AI," and "machine learning" in our work to expose and mitigate the harms of digital technologies in the lives of individuals and communities. I will try to explain what is at stake for us in this decision with reference to Alan Turing's foundational paper, Computing Machinery and Intelligence, which is of course most famous for its description of what the paper itself calls "the imitation game," but what has come to be known popularly as "the Turing test." The imitation game involves two people (one of whom takes the role of the "interrogator") and a computer. The object is for the interrogator, physically separated from the other player and the computer, to try to discern through a series of questions which of the responses to those questions is produced by the other human and which by the computer. "…in about fifty years' time it will be possible to programme computers, with a storage capacity of about 10⁹, to make them play the imitation game so well that an average interrogator will not have more than 70 percent, chance of making the right identification after five minutes of questioning."

With tax season upon us, the IRS is pushing individuals to submit to facial recognition in exchange for being able to complete a range of basic tax-related activities online. The IRS has retained a private firm--ID.me The IRS is not the only government agency working with ID.me. The company claims to serve "27 states, multiple federal agencies, and over 500 name brand retailers." This is alarming for several reasons.

The General Services Administration is among the lesser-known arms of US government, but it has surprising reach. It owns or leases more than 370 million square feet of offices and other facilities on behalf of other federal agencies, and also provides vehicles and IT services. Its government tech support is a particular priority of President Biden's pick to lead the agency, Robin Carnahan. Carnahan, confirmed by the Senate in June, previously worked at 18F, a tech group set up inside GSA by the Obama administration to modernize government technology. In a recent conversation with Tom Simonite, she discussed plans to smooth online access to government services and lure more tech talent.

As the US continues to deal with the economic fallout of the pandemic, many states are requiring residents to submit to a facial-recognition software program to collect unemployment benefits. Currently 25 states are using ID.me, a Virginia-based online identity network, CNN reports. Two more have signed contracts and at least seven others are in discussions. To register with ID.me, clients verify their identity online--comparing a valid photo ID with a video selfie taken on their phone. State agencies say they are trying to trim processing time and address the rising tide of benefits fraud that's developed during the pandemic.

The tectonic shifts to American culture and society due to the pandemic are far from over. One of the more glaring ones is that the U.S. labor market is going absolutely haywire. Millions are unemployed, yet companies -- from retail to customer service to airlines -- can't find enough workers. This perplexing paradox behind Uber price surges and waiting on an endless hold because your flight was canceled isn't just inconvenient -- it's a loud and clear message from the post-pandemic American workforce. Many are underpaid, undervalued and underwhelmed in their current jobs, and are willing to change careers or walk away from certain types of work for good.

We were initially anxious about the introduction of robots into our workforce because of the potential disappearance of manual labor jobs. Robots would take over factories, we were told, they'd drive our cars and trucks, and they would do all of the cleaning that janitorial and domestic workers are currently hired to do. But it turns out auto-pilots drive cars about as well as my cat when he's drunk, and the way my friend's Roomba always gets lost under the kitchen table, spinning uselessly, unable to find his way out, suggests we'll still need people with brooms for a while now. Instead, the robots are here not to replace this lower tier of underpaid and undervalued work. They are here to smugly sit in the middle, monitoring and surveilling us, hiring and firing us.

As US businesses begin to emerge from Covid, many are now facing a labor shortage crisis. After nearly 18 months of being locked down and vaccination rates increase, Americans are heading out in droves to their favorite restaurants, bars, and retail establishments. While this is a positive sign, it's presenting a big problem for businesses across the country as they struggle to keep up with the surge in demand. According to a May 6th, 2021 Department of Labor Report, 16.2 million are claiming unemployment benefits. Not all news is negative.

Assistant HHS Secretary Admiral Brett Giroir weighs in on the coronavirus pandemic on'The Daily Briefing.' The leaders of the House Problem Solvers Caucus Friday expressed optimism that Republicans and Democrats will soon come together on a major coronavirus deal to continue supplemental unemployment benefits, help struggling small businesses and fund the reopening of schools. Tom Reed, R-N.Y., and Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., predict an agreement will come within a matter of days. Negotiators are under pressure to act due to Friday's expiration of $600-per-week federal unemployment benefits, schools needing help to reopen this month and lawmakers wanting to preserve their August recess. "I think we're going to get this done this coming week," Gottheimer said in an interview with Fox News on Friday.