AI Acceleration Concepts
Context Rot is the degradation of AI accuracy and relevance as conversations grow longer—causing AI to "forget" early instructions and produce outputs that drift from your original intent.
Every AI has a context window—the maximum amount of text it can "see" at once. When you start a conversation, AI focuses sharply on your instructions. But as you exchange more messages, that early context gets pushed down by newer content. AI doesn't literally delete your instructions, but it increasingly prioritizes recent information.
Think of it like a conversation at a loud party. At first, you can hear everything clearly. But as more people join the conversation, earlier topics get harder to recall. You might forget what was said 20 minutes ago, even though technically you heard it. AI experiences a similar effect.
0-25% context used
25-75% context used
75-100% context used
Don't reuse a listing description conversation for buyer emails. Each distinct task deserves a clean context. New conversation = fresh attention to your instructions.
Load your Context Card at the start of each conversation. This front-loads your critical instructions where AI pays most attention—your identity, voice, and key requirements.
Resist the temptation to handle multiple unrelated tasks in one chat. Each tangent consumes context that could maintain focus on your primary objective.
For long projects, summarize progress periodically and start a new conversation with that summary. You preserve the work without the accumulated noise.
Put your most important instructions at the beginning of your prompt, not the end. AI pays more attention to what comes first—this is called primacy bias.
Context Rot is particularly dangerous in real estate because voice consistency matters so much. If AI starts a listing description in your warm, conversational style but finishes in generic marketing-speak, clients notice the shift—even if they can't articulate why something feels "off."
Listing #1 (Fresh)
"Nestled in the heart of Germantown, this charming 3BR captures everything buyers love about Nashville living..."
✓ Matches voice perfectly
Listing #5 (Mid-Session)
"This stunning property features modern amenities and is ideally located for convenient access to downtown Nashville..."
⚠️ Starting to sound generic
Listing #10 (Context Rot)
"Experience luxury living in this exceptional home featuring premium finishes and an unparalleled location..."
✗ Lost your voice entirely
Solution: Start a fresh conversation for each listing, loading your Context Card each time. The extra 30 seconds pays off in consistent quality.
The maximum tokens AI can process in one conversation.
AI Acceleration FrameworksReusable persona documents that combat Context Rot.
AI Acceleration FrameworksThe practice of giving AI the right information strategically.
LLM FundamentalsThe unit of text AI processes—the currency of context.
Learn advanced context strategies in The Architect workshop—including Context Cards, session management, and techniques to maintain AI quality.
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