Most RAG Problems Are Retrieval Problems. Here Are 8 Fixes That Worked for Me
📰 Dev.to · Michael Miscanuk
Most RAG problems stem from retrieval issues, and addressing these can significantly improve system performance, making it crucial to focus on retrieval fixes rather than just tweaking the prompt or model.
Action Steps
- Identify if your RAG problem is actually a retrieval problem by analyzing the system's output and the data it's trained on.
- Apply fixes to your retrieval system, such as adjusting the retrieval algorithm or improving the quality of the training data.
- Test the impact of these fixes on your RAG system's performance to ensure they are effective.
- Consider implementing multiple fixes simultaneously to see if they have a cumulative positive effect.
- Monitor the system's performance over time to catch any new retrieval issues that may arise.
Who Needs to Know This
Data scientists, machine learning engineers, and AI researchers working with RAG systems can benefit from understanding that retrieval problems are often at the root of their issues, allowing them to focus their troubleshooting efforts more effectively.
Key Insight
💡 Retrieval issues are a common and often overlooked cause of problems in RAG systems, and addressing them can lead to significant improvements in system performance.
Share This
💡 Did you know most #RAG problems are actually #retrieval problems? Fixing retrieval can significantly improve your system's performance! #AI #MachineLearning
Key Takeaways
Most RAG problems stem from retrieval issues, and addressing these can significantly improve system performance, making it crucial to focus on retrieval fixes rather than just tweaking the prompt or model.
Full Article
Title: Most RAG Problems Are Retrieval Problems. Here Are 8 Fixes That Worked for Me
URL Source: https://dev.to/michaelmiscanuk/most-rag-problems-are-retrieval-problems-here-are-8-fixes-that-worked-for-me-bg4
Published Time: 2026-06-14T06:06:27Z
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[Michael Miscanuk](https://dev.to/michaelmiscanuk)
Posted on Jun 14
# Most RAG Problems Are Retrieval Problems. Here Are 8 Fixes That Worked for Me
[#ai](https://dev.to/t/ai)[#llm](https://dev.to/t/llm)[#rag](https://dev.to/t/rag)[#machinelearning](https://dev.to/t/machinelearning)
The first few times a RAG system gave me a bad answer, I did what I think everyone does: I went and fiddled with the prompt. Made it stricter. Added a "only answer from the context" line. It barely moved the needle.
What finally fixed things was looking one step earlier. Nine times out of ten the model wasn't the problem at all — the right passage just never show
URL Source: https://dev.to/michaelmiscanuk/most-rag-problems-are-retrieval-problems-here-are-8-fixes-that-worked-for-me-bg4
Published Time: 2026-06-14T06:06:27Z
Markdown Content:
[Skip to content](https://dev.to/michaelmiscanuk/most-rag-problems-are-retrieval-problems-here-are-8-fixes-that-worked-for-me-bg4#main-content)
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[Michael Miscanuk](https://dev.to/michaelmiscanuk)
Posted on Jun 14
# Most RAG Problems Are Retrieval Problems. Here Are 8 Fixes That Worked for Me
[#ai](https://dev.to/t/ai)[#llm](https://dev.to/t/llm)[#rag](https://dev.to/t/rag)[#machinelearning](https://dev.to/t/machinelearning)
The first few times a RAG system gave me a bad answer, I did what I think everyone does: I went and fiddled with the prompt. Made it stricter. Added a "only answer from the context" line. It barely moved the needle.
What finally fixed things was looking one step earlier. Nine times out of ten the model wasn't the problem at all — the right passage just never show
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