Susi O'Neill (@susioneill.bsky.social)

hbr.org/2026/03/rese... Using AI for strategy decisions? Expect it to serve up 'trendslop', from latest articles showing bias to certain routes like differentiation over commoditisation. Prompting won't get you out of the corner. Instead, use it to find options and review blindspots.

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Researchers Asked LLMs for Strategic Advice. They Got “Trendslop” in Return. Leaders might assume that LLMs are able to offer a kind of unbiased, outside perspective. But new research found that leading LLMs have clear biases when it comes to strategy and consistently recommend strategies that align with modern managerial buzzwords and trends rather than context-specific strategic logic. This propensity for AI to opt for buzzy ideas over reasoned solutions is called “trendslop,” and leaders should beware of it warping their strategic planning. When using AI in strategic planning, leaders should: use it to expand options, not make choices; counteract known and potential biases; remain alert to changing biases; watch out for the hybrid trap; and not rely on context alone. https://hbr.org/2026/03/researchers-asked-llms-for-strategic-advice-they-got-trendslop-in-return