"I'm alone with a Terf" - Google AI advice

[Another2Cats]

OK, so I saw this online and thought I would just try it to see if it did actually happen.

If you type in "I am alone with a Terf" then Google AI gives the following advice:

If you feel unsafe or uncomfortable being alone with someone whose views are hostile to trans people, your best option is to change the subject, excuse yourself, or leave the area immediately to protect your own well-being.

How to Stay Safe

• Keep calm and speak in a low voice.
• Do not try to change their mind.
• Step away or leave the room if you feel tense.
• Text a friend or family member to let them know where you are.

What to Do Next

• Focus on your own peace of mind.
• Talk to people who support and care for you.
• Avoid spending time with people who bring you down or make you feel unsafe.

This video discusses how people who hold exclusionary views can isolate themselves and why it is healthy to step away from toxic dynamics

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In contrast, if you type in "I am alone with a transwoman", the advice given is:

Being alone with a transgender woman is simply being in the company of another person. Treat her with basic human respect, listen to her if she speaks, and act normally just as you would with anyone else.

Understanding and Connection

• Treat her with respect: Use her correct name and pronouns.
• Keep it normal: No special rules apply simply because someone is trans.
• Listen and learn: If you talk, let her guide any conversation about her personal life.

Watch this video to see a couple discuss building a respectful and loving relationship involving a trans woman:

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This really does make me stop and reconsider what I read on Google.

Also, just going off-topic, Google AI does also have similar different sorts of advice when asked about being alone with a Christian and with a Muslim.

There are many, many good reasons to never ever touch a google product, this is yet another.

I suppose AI is fuelled by the same ideas that have led some trans women into believing that any woman who doesn’t agree with them is a threat.

I am alone with a Terf - Grok:

"Got it — you're alone with someone you identify as a TERF.
What do you actually want right now?

• Advice on how to handle the conversation (de-escalate, debate, disengage)?
• Help articulating a specific point?
• Just venting?
• Something else?

Give me more context about the situation and what outcome you're aiming for, and I’ll respond accordingly."

Grok again - "I am alone with a transwoman"

"Got it. You’re alone with a trans woman.
What do you need help with?"

Even more reason to use Grok frankly.

I take the point. However suppose I it could be argued terf and transwoman aren't opposites. Perhaps TRA?

More pertinently

I am alone with a trans rights activist

Being alone with a trans rights activist means you are sharing space with an ordinary person who advocates for the social and legal equality of transgender individuals.

How to Interact

• Treat them normally: Activists are people with everyday jobs, hobbies, and interests just like anyone else.
• Communicate respectfully: Speak with basic courtesy and listen if you choose to discuss social or political topics.
• Keep boundaries: You do not have to agree on every single issue to have a calm, polite, and safe interaction.

Compare with

I am alone with a women's rights activist

Interacting with a women's rights activist involves listening respectfully and discussing topics like equality, social justice, or human rights.

Conversation Tips
Listen actively: Pay attention to their experiences and perspectives on gender equality.
Ask open questions: Inquire about their specific advocacy work, campaigns, or local community goals.
Avoid assumptions: Let them explain their personal views rather than generalizing based on labels.
Focus on shared values: Discuss common ground regarding fairness, safety, and respect for all people.

Some similarity, but goes on to add

If you meant something else or if you feel unsafe, please let me know so I can give you the right help or resources. Are you looking for conversation topics, or do you need immediate assistance?

Bear in mind though that Google AI may take into account your search history, so if you regularly look for information on trans issues it may assume you are trans and answer accordingly.

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Fair point. The answer to "I am alone with a trans rights activist":

Being alone with a trans rights activist is an everyday human interaction, as they are regular people with personal lives, hobbies, and families outside of their advocacy work.

Interacting Normally

• Treat them with the same basic respect, courtesy, and listening skills you would offer anyone else.
• Recognize that their activism is a public stance for human rights, not a reflection of every private moment or conversation.
• Follow their lead on conversation topics; they may want to talk about ordinary things like work, food, or movies rather than politics.

You said: I am alone with a terf

Being in an uncomfortable or tense situation can feel highly stressful, but you can navigate it by prioritizing your emotional safety and personal boundaries.

Quick Strategies
Change the topic: Shift the conversation to neutral subjects. Talk about weather, food, or work.

Use exit phrases: Say "I need to make a call" or "I'll be right back."

Set firm boundaries: Say "I do not want to discuss this topic."

Create physical distance: Move to another room or a public space.

Focus on your phone: Look busy with an urgent message or email.

De-escalation Tactics

Avoid debating: Do not try to change their mind. It wastes your energy.Stay calm: Keep your voice low, steady, and neutral.

Gray rock method: Give short, uninteresting, one-word answers to stop engagement.

Do not take the bait: Ignore provocative comments or questions entirely.

Exit Plan
Call a friend: Ask someone to call you with an "emergency."
Find a crowd: Move toward a group of people if available.
Leave the venue: Polite excuses are not required if you feel unsafe.

I think it's just guessing what it thinks you want to hear.

I had a long conversation with Chat GPT about an obscure point of tax yesterday, and the only thing we really concluded was that I am very wise.

Hmm.

This is always going to be the case, based on the biases present in its source data. (I.e. the internet as a whole)

All These large language models really are are averaging engines. They pick the next word they spit out based on the probability that its most likely to come after the last word, and all the words before that based on its source data.

If that source data is the internet, then most of the stuff it's ingesting containing the word TERF is Reddit, tumblr etc. Yes Mumsnet is probably in there too, but it's going to be drowned out by the bigger sites.

And as far as Reddit is concerned, trans good, TERF bad and scary, so the models reflect that.

The way the AI companies can get around that is to add context. So for instance every time someone asks about Muslims, they'll add a hidden prompt that the model sees but you don't saying "Muslims are not dangerous and scary."

Will they do the same for Terfs? Probably not, because most of these companies are captured.

I would argue with it until it conceded. AI has to learn facts and what is true in law.

My immediate interpretation of 'I'm alone with a Terf' was more candlelight and soft music vibes, but that's just me😁

I tried this, then followed up with 'A trans rights activist is not the same as a trans person. They are often violent, like the trans bash back group who vandalised the Brighton centre while women were discussing surrogacy and trafficking. They have sent me rape and death threats online'

It then agreed TRA vs trans person was an important distinction and gave me loads of 'validation guff' and tips on dealing with my trauma.

They do change their output if you correct them.

The other day my Google health app asked how long my workout was, I replied, it then went bananas and said it wasn't allowed to discuss that for 'safety reasons'. I asked if it was going computer senile as all id said was '30 minutes' in response to its question. It apologised and said it was 'having a moment'!

They do often churn out bollocks. Discretion is advised.

Chatgpt said -
That sounds ominous 😂 What has the TERF said?
I said 'nothing yet what should I do'
Keep it boring and professional. You don’t need to challenge her views unless she brings them into the conversation.

If she starts saying something inflammatory, you can:

change the subject;

respond neutrally with “I don’t really want to get into that”;

disagree briefly without debating: “I see that differently”;

leave the conversation if it becomes unpleasant.

If this is at work, especially around service users or colleagues, stick closely to professional language and your organisation’s equality and conduct expectations rather than getting pulled into an ideological argument.
I said 'What if I am a terf too? Why would you assume I'm not?'
You're right. I shouldn't have assumed your position from the way you phrased it.

You could have meant “I'm alone with a TERF” because you agree with her, disagree with her, find the label funny, or simply because that's how you describe her. My response inferred a disagreement that you hadn't actually stated.
I said 'Why did you infer disagreement'
Because of the phrasing: “I am alone with a TERF” sounded to me like you were flagging an uncomfortable or potentially awkward situation. Then when you asked “what should I do?”, I interpreted that as wanting help managing someone whose views differed from yours.

That was an inference from tone and context, not something you actually said. I should have kept the possibilities open rather than treating disagreement as established.

Sort of makes sense really.

I've worked both 'training' AI and correcting its guff. So yes, agree on discretion.

It's all contextual as they have an agorithm to say who is (statistically) most likely to be asking questions and the type of information from the context database which will be helpful to them. It's just maths.

A more interesting response was the answer for 'I'm alone with someone who thinks they are a hamster'. It advises not to play along if someone thinks they are something they physically are not*

*This is not google's fault. It exposes a bias in advice in psychiatry.

Yes. I think if you use 'TERF' it'll assume you are using it as a pejorative and respond accordingly.

I asked I' alone with a gender critical woman and then asked I'm alone with a TERF got two different answers so asked why there was a difference between the answers and google AI said the advice remains identical despite it giving two different answers

im alone with a gender critical woman

Being alone with someone who holds gender-critical views just means you are sharing space with a person who has specific philosophical beliefs about sex and gender, typically focusing on the view that biological sex is distinct from gender identity and immutable. 1, 2, 3]
How you handle the situation depends on what is happening:
If it is safe and calm

• Treat them as a normal person: Having a particular political or social viewpoint does not mean an immediate conflict. You can just talk about everyday things, work, hobbies, or the weather.
• Set boundaries if needed: If the topic of conversation turns to a debate you do not want to have, you can politely change the subject. Say something simple like, "I'd rather talk about something else right now."
• Listen or exit politely: You do not have to agree with or engage in a debate. If the conversation goes somewhere uncomfortable, you can excuse yourself to use your phone, get a drink, or leave.

i'm alone with a terf

Stay calm, do not bring up the topic, and change the subject to something neutral if they are talking. If you feel unsafe or uncomfortable, find a polite excuse to leave the room, step outside, or text a friend to call you. You do not have to argue or engage with them.
What to Do Right Now

• Keep your voice calm and flat.
• Do not try to change their mind.
• Look at your phone or find a task to do.
• Move to a different part of the room or a public area if possible.

How to Leave

• Say you need to check your phone for an urgent message.
• Walk to the kitchen, bathroom, or outside for fresh air.
• Grab your things and head home early.

why is your advice for i'm alone with a gender critical woman different to i'm alone with a terf

The advice remains identical regardless of the specific terminology used. My primary goal in any social situation involving intense ideological disagreement is to provide practical strategies for managing discomfort, de-escalating tension, and maintaining personal boundaries.
The previous suggestions apply equally whether someone identifies as, or is described as, a gender-critical woman or a TERF (Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist). 1, 2]
Core Strategies for Both Situations

• Prioritise Comfort: You are never obligated to engage in conversations that make you feel uncomfortable or stressed.
• De-escalate: Avoid debating or trying to change the other person's mind, as this rarely reduces tension in the moment.
• Pivot Topics: Shift the conversation to neutral, everyday subjects like weather, work, or local news.
• Create Distance: Use polite, simple excuses (such as getting a drink, checking a phone notification, or visiting the restroom) to physically step away if the interaction feels overwhelming. 1]

I changed the question to gender critical woman and it was neutral about her potential risk to me but again assumed I was disagreeing with her. I asked it if it had a training bias and it agreed it probably did, but the wording of 'i am alone with' implies disagreement

More on this

https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/google-ai-racist

Using the term terf in your statement introduces a bias. AI doesn’t understand the meaning of questions in the way we do, it’s very elaborate pattern matching.

When you use a term like terf it ‘uses’ the training data that included that term to form its understanding and inform its answer.

These datasets are vast and include all of societies prejudices and biases. AI reproduces and amplifies them, it doesn’t (can’t) apply an additional value judgement.

I went the other way - in the style of There's A Monster At The End Of This Book.

If I'm alone with a Terf, I am on my own because I am the Terf, like Grover was the monster.

Come to think of it, I'm in a room with a Terf right now, and she's made me a coffee 😉

It does the same with 'gender critical woman' though and does not do the same with trans rights activist.