Why LLMs can't handle everyday social etiquette in Persian:

Reading between the lines, this is a really good caution for any diplomats who are thinking of firing their interpreters and replacing them with "AI".

https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/09/when-no-means-yes-why-ai-chatbots-cant-process-persian-social-etiquette/

When “no” means “yes”: Why AI chatbots can’t process Persian social etiquette

New study examines how a helpful AI response could become a cultural disaster in Iran.

Ars Technica
@cstross Ahahahaa - is this article about taarof??
@clickhere Yup! LLMs can't cope with it. (I suspect they can't parse self-deprecating humour or irony either.)

@cstross Love, love, love it. F them up, cultural norms!

I remember reading about taarof years ago, and it immediately reminded me of Irish self-depreciation. We're not quite so ritualised, but there are definitely echoes.

This gives a sense of it:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/AsQ0KORStFA

Irish and German People Offering Things #irishcomedy #comedy #germancomedy

YouTube