Prompt Engineering as a Control Illusion
Abstract
This article explains why prompt engineering cannot function as a control mechanism in AI systems. Prompts influence model behavior semantically but do not enforce decision boundaries or execution authority. It argues that reliable AI requires architectural separation between generation and control, where responsibility, escalation, and stop conditions are enforced by design rather than inferred through language.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Ethics and Social Impacts of AI
Artificial Intelligence Applications
Safety Systems Engineering in Autonomy
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
- Publication date
- 11 January 2026