LLM Tool Failures: Only 3 Root Causes – Value, Condition, Intent
Summary
The article argues that large language model (LLM) tool failures boil down to three root causes: value, condition, and intent. It proposes a structured approach to execution where a fixed checklist, provider/user checklists, and external lookups drive decisions, separating what the model drafts from what is executed. The piece emphasizes auditable records of decisions and argues for treating reasoning as separate from action to improve safety and reliability in AI-assisted workflows.