The hidden costs of LLM problem-solving

It’s well-known that LLM usage has changed communication in lots of ways: From slop grenades to automated emails, the erosion of real communication is there for all to see. I’ve noticed another trend: instead of receiving emails that ask “how do we solve this problem?”, there’s an increasing tendency to say “can you implement X, Y and Z?” In other words: instead of opening up a conversation where expertise can be leveraged, collaborators are being asked to implement a prescribed solution. In many examples I’ve seen, it’s clear that the ‘solution’ has been generated by an LLM. Even if it’s not openly stated, there are many unmistakable tells – a combination of tone, unusual technical detail and format leave little doubt. How we got here is totally understandable. LLMs appear to offer expertise, so people consult them to solve issues in areas outside of their domain. But relaying this output as a solution is a flawed approach and introduces lots of risks. Bad suggestions The most common…