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Large Language Model Hacking: Quantifying the Hidden Risks of Using LLMs for Text Annotation

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Resumen del artículo

Título de Paperzilla
LLM Annotations Can Lead to Wrong Conclusions: One in Three Studies Affected by 'LLM Hacking'

This study finds a substantial risk of drawing incorrect conclusions in social science research when using Large Language Models (LLMs) for text annotation, with an average of one in three hypotheses leading to false conclusions due to variations in LLM configuration ('LLM hacking'). Even highly accurate LLMs are susceptible, and intentional manipulation to achieve desired outcomes is alarmingly easy.

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Using AI to label data for research can lead to wrong answers, like getting a bad grade on a test because the teacher used a faulty grading system. Even good AI can mess up, so we need to double-check its work.

Posibles conflictos de intereses

None identified

Limitaciones identificadas

Assumption of noise-free ground truth
The study assumes human annotations are perfect, which is unlikely in reality. This might overestimate the error rate attributed solely to the LLMs.
Limited configuration space
The selection of models, prompts, and other settings explored might not represent the full spectrum used by researchers, potentially underestimating the true extent of LLM hacking risk.
Focus on p<0.05
Relying on a strict p-value threshold can be problematic, especially given the demonstrated instability of LLM results near significance boundaries.

Explicación de la calificación

This paper reveals a critical, previously overlooked issue in computational social science and quantifies the risks associated with using LLMs for data annotation. The methodology is rigorous, involving a large-scale replication study across diverse tasks and models. While there are limitations regarding the ground truth assumption and the explored configuration space, the findings are substantial and have significant implications for research practice. The paper also offers practical recommendations to mitigate the identified risks, which enhances its value to the scientific community.

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Información del archivo

Título original: Large Language Model Hacking: Quantifying the Hidden Risks of Using LLMs for Text Annotation
Subido: 12 sept 2025, 19:06:37
Privacidad: Público