A CAP-like Trilemma for Large Language Models: Correctness, Non-bias, and Utility under Semantic Underdetermination
The CAP theorem states that a distributed system cannot simultaneously guarantee consistency, availability, and partition tolerance under network partition. Inspired by this result, this paper formulates a CAP-like conjecture for Large Language Models (LLMs). The proposed trilemma states that, under semantic underdetermination, an LLM cannot always simultaneously guarantee strong correctness, strict non-bias, and high utility. A prompt is semantically underdetermined when the given premises do not determine a unique answer. In such cases, a useful and decisive response requires the model to introduce a selection criterion, preference, prior, or value ordering. If this criterion is not sup...
| Authors | Vinu Ellampallil Venugopal |
|---|---|
| Primary category | cs.AI |
| Published | 12 May 2026 |
| Last updated at source | 12 May 2026 |
Silytics shows public metadata from arXiv and links to the original. Information may be incomplete or out of date. Last refreshed 17 October 2026. Licenses and terms of the original apply to the work itself. Not financial, legal or professional advice.