
Large Language Models as Classification Engines: Overkill, or Awesome?
Last Updated on August 28, 2025 by Editorial Team
Author(s): Katherine Munro
Originally published on Towards AI.
Why is it an odd choice? Why you should try it anyway. And how to go about it.
Have you ever wanted to build a trillion-parameter labelling machine? And by that I mean, would you use a Large Language Model to solve a classification problem?
The article discusses the unconventional use of Large Language Models (LLMs) as classification engines, explaining that while they are not naturally suited for classification tasks due to their complexity and unpredictability, they can still provide benefits like rapid prototyping and ease of use without needing extensive retraining. It includes various approaches to implement LLMs in classification, explores real-world applications like customer intent detection, and emphasizes the importance of balancing accuracy with the inherent challenges of using LLMs for such tasks. Examples from a telecommunications provider illustrate these concepts effectively.
Read the full blog for free on Medium.
Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming a sponsor.
Published via Towards AI
Take our 90+ lesson From Beginner to Advanced LLM Developer Certification: From choosing a project to deploying a working product this is the most comprehensive and practical LLM course out there!
Towards AI has published Building LLMs for Production—our 470+ page guide to mastering LLMs with practical projects and expert insights!

Discover Your Dream AI Career at Towards AI Jobs
Towards AI has built a jobs board tailored specifically to Machine Learning and Data Science Jobs and Skills. Our software searches for live AI jobs each hour, labels and categorises them and makes them easily searchable. Explore over 40,000 live jobs today with Towards AI Jobs!
Note: Content contains the views of the contributing authors and not Towards AI.