Definition
A prompting technique where the AI is explicitly instructed to "think step by step" before generating a
final answer. This forces the model to externalize its reasoning process, dramatically reducing
hallucinations and errors on complex logical tasks. It transforms the AI from an "Oracle" (immediate answer)
to a "Thinker" (deliberative process).
The Transparent Mind
Chain-of-Thought is not just a technical trick; it is an epistemological shift. It allows the user to
audit the machine's logic, transforming the "Black Box" into a "Glass Box."
Field Notes & Ephemera
Field Note: When you skip the work, you skip the truth. Forcing the machine to show its
work serves the same purpose as it does for a math student: it proves the answer wasn't a lucky guess.