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The Human Standard™

A clear framework for defining how content is created.

Introduction

The Human Standard™ establishes a consistent way to classify content based on the level of human involvement in its creation.

As AI becomes integrated into publishing workflows, a shared framework is required to distinguish between human-created, human-guided, and AI-generated work.

The Human Standard provides that framework through three defined designations.

Three Designations. Clear Distinctions.

Human Created (HC)

Content fully written by a human author.

AI may be used in a limited, assistive capacity, but does not generate substantive portions of the content.

  • All original content is authored by a human
  • AI is used only for support functions such as spelling, grammar, formatting, transcription, or research assistance
  • The ideas, language, and structure originate from the author

Expectation:
No portion of the written content is generated by AI.

Human Guided (HG)

Content in which the majority of the writing is created by a human author, with meaningful contribution from AI tools.

  • More than 50% of the written content is authored by a human
  • AI contributes to drafting, expansion, or refinement of portions of the work
  • The human maintains direction, decision-making, and final control

Expectation:
Human authorship is the dominant force in the creation of the content.

AI Generated (AIG)

Content in which the majority of the writing is generated by AI.

  • More than 50% of the written content is produced by AI
  • Human involvement includes prompting, editing, or organizing AI-generated material
  • Structure, language, or development is primarily AI-driven

Expectation:
The content would not exist in its current form without AI-generated writing.

How Categories are Distinguished

The Human Standard™ evaluates content based on the proportion of human-authored writing and the role of AI in generating the work.

  • Key considerations include:
  • The origin of written content
  • The proportion of human versus AI-generated text
  • The degree of human direction and control
  • The role of AI in drafting, expanding, or shaping the work

Classifications are applied based on a consistent interpretation of these factors across all reviewed content.

Consistency Across Content

The Human Standard is designed to be applied consistently across an organization’s body of work.
Each designation carries a clear and stable meaning, enabling publishers and audiences to understand how content is created.

Frequently asked Questions

If I wrote all of the content but used AI for support tasks, does it qualify as Human Certified (HC)?

Yes.
Use of AI for assistive functions such as:

  • spelling and grammar checks
  • research support
  • transcription of interviews
  • organization or indexing

does not change the classification, as long as the written content itself is authored by a human.

If AI generates portions of the written content, those portions are considered AI-generated.

If more than 50% of the final written content originates from the human author, the work is classified as Human Guided (HG).
If AI-generated content exceeds that threshold, the work is classified as AI Generated (AIG).

No. Editing, revising, or refining AI-generated content does not change its origin. Content must be written by a human to qualify as Human Certified.

The Human Standard™ evaluates authorship through a combination of:

  • author attestation
  • AI-supported analysis
  • human review

These inputs are used together to form a consistent determination.

Content that originates from AI remains AI-generated, even if it is later rewritten by a human.

If more than 50% of the final written content is authored by the human, the work may qualify as Human Guided (HG), but it cannot be classified as Human Certified (HC).

Human Certified requires that all written content originates from the human author.

This is classified as AI Generated (AIG).

While the human provides direction through the outline, the majority of the written content is generated by AI. Under the Human Standard™, classification is based on authorship of the written content, not the initial concept or structure.

No.

Human Certified requires that all written content is authored by a human.
If AI generates any portion of the written content, the work cannot be classified as HC.

A Clear Line in a
Changing Landscape

The Human Standard establishes a clear and consistent way to define how content is created. By setting explicit thresholds and applying them consistently, it provides a reliable framework for transparency and trust.
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