Error Recovery & Graceful Degradation
What is Error Recovery & Graceful Degradation?
Error Recovery & Graceful Degradation ensures systems fail gracefully with clear recovery paths instead of confusing errors. Instead of cryptic messages, the AI acknowledges limitations, explains issues, and offers next steps. It's critical for maintaining trust in production systems where failures have consequences. Examples include ChatGPT admitting uncertainty, Google Translate offering alternatives, or voice assistants suggesting different approaches when misunderstanding.
Example: ChatGPT Capacity Error Recovery

When servers are overloaded, ChatGPT displays clear 'at capacity' messages with options to retry, explaining the issue without losing user context. Users can wait and retry or upgrade to ChatGPT Plus for priority access during high-demand periods.
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