6.2Recurring problems (playbook)
The essentials in 30 seconds
- Reflex: one symptom = likely causes = an action sequence — frame, check, protect, keep the human on decisions.
- Check: allow “I don't know”, require cited sources and check proportionately to the stakes.
- Protect: classify the data and if in doubt do not paste; get legal and HR approved by a professional.
Amine thread — the playbook taped next to the screen
Amine keeps this playbook next to his screen. Verdict after one year: three lines served him most — generic answers reframed in RCTF, AI inventing references, and doubt before pasting a document. For each, he ended up applying the sequence (frame, require sources, classify the data) instead of managing by feel.
Observed symptom, checked causes, actions in order: the reflex holds in three steps.
One reflex per symptom
Most disappointments with AI recur for classic reasons. Linking each symptom to its likely causes and an action sequence saves precious time — and avoids incidents.
| Symptom | Likely causes | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Generic, disappointing answers | vague prompt, no role/context/format | apply RCTF, give an example (few-shot), iterate |
| AI invents facts/references | hallucination, no web search, risk zone | allow “I don't know”, require cited sources, check proportionately |
| AI always approves my ideas | sycophancy, leading question | ask for explicit criticism (“attack like a sceptic”), devil's advocate |
| Doubt: may I paste this document? | company data, unapproved tool | classify (public/internal/confidential), anonymise or approved tool; if in doubt, do not paste |
| Bland, interchangeable marketing content | no lived material, no brand tone | inject case/figure/opinion, document the tone, “anyone?” question |
| Conversation thread going everywhere | mixed topics, bogged-down thread | one topic = one thread; restart from a fresh thread with a consolidated prompt |
| Copilot wrong about my documents | outdated document taken as reference, approximate synthesis | click the sources, keep documents up to date (titles, dates), arbitrate |
| Doubtful legal reference | legal hallucination (the riskiest zone) | check against the official source, get a professional to approve |
| HR/hiring use blocked | individual decision / high risk | AI does not decide; human in the loop; approve compliance with the DPO |
Ready-to-say script — handling a blocker without exposing yourself (30 s)
“My symptom: [generic answer / invention / pasting doubt]. I reframe in RCTF with an example, I require cited sources, I classify the data and if in doubt I do not paste. For legal and HR, I get a professional to approve.”
Copy-paste template — express blocker sheet
OBSERVED SYMPTOM (bland, invention, sycophancy, doubt): ...
Since when / on which file: ...
LIKELY CAUSES (playbook 6.2): ...
REFRAMING (RCTF + example + criticism asked): ...
CHECKING (cited sources, level by stakes): ...
DATA (classification, anonymisation, approved tool): ...
PRO APPROVAL (legal / HR / DPO if concerned): ...
REVIEW: reflex to anchor for next time: ...Small business / tight budget
No formal table: one symptom, the playbook's likely cause, the action and approval by the contact person.
SME in Algeria
Include local realities: organisation-approved tool, team charter, professional or DPO to consult.
Remote / hybrid
Add the written trace to actions: at a distance, a consolidated fresh thread and dated checking avoid misunderstandings.
Intercultural
Check local practices before acting: official sources and expected approvals vary by country.
48h challenge — apply tomorrow
Spot 1 current symptom (last disappointing answer or pasting doubt), fill in the express blocker sheet and test the 1st action (reframe + check).
- I can link a symptom to its likely causes.
- I filled in (or planned) an express blocker sheet.
- I know the pointer to the level to dig into for my case.
Amine hesitates before pasting an internal document into a public tool. Which reflex does the playbook apply?
One problem recurring is not ten incidents: it is a missing reflex to fix at the root (frame the prompt, check the facts, protect the data, keep the human on decisions).