Skip to content
The blog

Written after the deployment, not before.

Essays on AI architecture, strategy and the org problems in between. Heart what’s useful, argue with me in the comments.

Tagged large-language-modelsclear ✕


Aug 25, 2026

From Vague Request to Valid Result: A Framework for Prompting AI

Learn a systematic framework for prompt engineering to move from ambiguous requests to precise, reliable AI outputs. This guide covers the core principles, a step-by-step workflow, and the critical trade-offs involved.

Abstract shapes and lines connect, forming a pathway from a question mark to a checkmark.

2 reads

Aug 25, 2026

Debate and Decompose: When a Second Agent Is Worth the Cost

Multi-agent systems add cost and complexity, but are justified for specific use cases like independent verification (debate) or breaking down tasks that exceed a single model's context window (decomposition). This article provides a framework for deciding when to add a second agent.

Two abstract figures debate, one decomposing into smaller parts.

Aug 25, 2026

LLM11 min read

The Model Upgrade Is Not a Drop-In: A Production Migration Guide

A major new foundation model release is not a simple drop-in upgrade. This guide provides a framework for migrating your production pipeline safely, covering re-qualification, prompt auditing, and sequenced rollouts to avoid breaking changes.

Abstract diagram showing a complex pipeline with interconnected nodes and arrows.

Jul 13, 2026

alignment tax9 min read

The Alignment Tax: Why Making LLMs Safer Can Make Them Less Capable

Improving the safety and helpfulness of large language models often comes at a cost to their raw capabilities. This trade-off, known as the 'alignment tax,' is a fundamental challenge in making AI systems that are both powerful and beneficial.

Two gears, one labeled "Safety" and the other "Capability," are misaligned.

1 reads

May 14, 2026

LLM11 min read

Your LLM Is a Bug: A 5-Point Test for When Not to Use AI

Large Language Models are powerful but often the wrong tool for the job. This article provides a five-point decision test to identify when a simpler, more reliable solution like a database query, a regular expression, or a classical classifier is the better choice.

A stylized bug with circuit board patterns and a glowing AI eye.

1 reads

May 07, 2026

Your AI Team Is a Bottleneck: Why LLMs Belong on the Platform

Stop creating siloed "AI teams" that become bottlenecks. To scale LLM development, treat AI capabilities as a product built by your platform team, enabling product teams to innovate faster and more safely.

Abstract illustration of interconnected gears and data streams forming a central hub.

1 reads

Jan 19, 2026

LLM12 min read

The 100x Cost Gap: When to Replace Your LLM With a Simple Rule

A single powerful LLM is often the most expensive and least reliable way to answer simple questions. This article explains how to build a routing layer that uses deterministic rules for simple queries, saving money and improving reliability, while reserving expensive models for the complex tasks they were built for.

A stylized circuit board with a glowing brain icon at its center.

Nov 07, 2025

The 1M Token Budget: Why 1 in 10 Queries Fail at Scale

Large context windows are not a free upgrade; they are a budget with steep costs in money, latency, and accuracy. This article explains the three hidden costs of long context and provides a framework for deciding when to use it.

A stack of coins with a question mark on top.

1 reads