Why a Simple If-Else Can Beat an LLM TL;DR: When you can describe the inputs and the expected outputs in advance, you don’t need a model — you need a function. Here’s the principle, the proof, and the one case where the principle breaks. A teammate burned $47 of API credits last quarter on a “smart” classifier.
Key Takeaways
Why a Simple If-Else Can Beat an LLM TL;DR: When you can describe the inputs and the expected outputs in advance, you don’t need a model — you need a function.
The job: sort incoming support emails into four buckets (billing, technical, account, other) and route them to the right Slack channel.
The model nailed it about 91% of the time.
Bottom Line
Why a Simple If-Else Can Beat an LLM is a signal worth watching in 2026. If you're building or securing infrastructure, keep an eye on this trend.
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