---
title: Gold Standard
slug: gold-standard
url: https://templeton.host/lexicon/gold-standard/
type: defined-term
inDefinedTermSet: https://templeton.host/lexicon
author: Andrew Templeton
---

# Gold Standard

## Definition

A set of human-verified, ground-truth examples used to calibrate and evaluate AI output. The gold standard IS the verification instrument. Without it, you are measuring with a broken ruler.

## Why this term exists

You can't improve what you can't measure, and you can't measure without a reference. The gold standard is that reference.

## See also

- [Knowledge Capital](https://templeton.host/frameworks/knowledge-capital)
- [Proof Layer](https://templeton.host/lexicon/proof-layer)
- [Quality Ratchet](https://templeton.host/lexicon/quality-ratchet)
- [Autonomy State Machine](https://templeton.host/lexicon/autonomy-state-machine)

Canonical URL: https://templeton.host/lexicon/gold-standard/