---
date: "2024-04-15T08:52:47Z"
categories:
  - linkedin
description: "When asked for random numbers, LLMs display human-like biases toward “random-looking” choices, avoiding round numbers and favoring patterns like 42, 47, and 7-endings."
keywords: ["LLM bias", "random numbers", "human-like bias", "ChatGPT", "Claude", "Gemini"]
---

When picking a number between 1-100, do #LLMs pick randomly? Or pick like a human?

Leniolabs_ found #ChatGPT prefers 42. Gramener re-ran the experiment. Things have changed a bit. Now, 47 is the new favorite.

But Claude 3 Haiku latched on to 42 as its favorite. Gemini's favorite is 72.

See https://sanand0.github.io/llmrandom/

They all avoid multiples of 10 (10, 20, ...), repeated digits (11, 22, ...), single digits (1, 2, ...) and prefer 7-endings (27, 37, ...). These are clearly human #biases -- avoiding regular / round numbers and seeking 7 as "random".

Strangely, they all avoid numbers ending with 1, and like 72, 73 and 56 a lot. (I don't know why. Any guesses?)

![](https://files.s-anand.net/images/2024-04-15-llmrandom-linkedin.gif)

[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn%3Ali%3Ashare%3A7185560680421363712)