About
What is Human Quotient?
Human Quotient (HQ) is a 0-10 scale that describes how much human effort, intention, and craft went into creating a piece of content. It's a self-assessment — an attestation by the creator about how the work was made.
It is not an AI detector. It is not a quality score. It is not anti-AI or pro-AI. It is a neutral vocabulary for honesty about creative work.
Who is it for?
HQ is for anyone who creates content and wants to be transparent about how it was made.
People who don't use AI
Creators who want to record that AI did not participate in a particular work. They may choose HQ 10 for that work, or another level when their process is different. HQ does not prescribe a score.
People who use AI constantly
Professionals, teams, and organizations who use AI tools as part of their workflow and want to be honest about where the machine's contribution ends and theirs begins.
People in the middle
Creators who use AI for some tasks, sometimes, and want a way to describe the role it played in a particular work.
Audiences
Readers, viewers, listeners who want to know what they're consuming — not "is this AI?" but "how much human attention went into this?"
How does it work?
A creator produces a piece of content. They assess their process — what did they create directly, and what role did tools play? They assign a number from 0 to 10 and may share that number with their audience, either informally or through a linkable URL like humanquotient.ai/scale/7.
The number is a contract between creator and audience. The creator declares how the work was produced and what role tools played. The audience can use that information to set its own expectations.
What media does it cover?
All creative work. Writing is the most obvious application, but HQ applies equally to visual art, music, code, video, design, and any other medium where a human can shape the output and a machine can generate it. The question is always the same: how much of the act of creation was human?
Is it a legal or regulatory tool?
No. HQ does not determine copyright, ownership, or legal obligations. There are deep philosophical questions about authorship and AI that are being discussed in courts and legislatures. HQ is aware of those conversations but is not positioned to resolve them. HQ is a tool for self-expression about content — a way to say "this is how the content was produced and what role tools played."
How can I use it?
Right now, you can:
- Read the scale and find the level that matches how you created your work
- Link to a specific level (e.g.,
humanquotient.ai/scale/8) from your content - Use the vocabulary in your own workflow, team, or organization
- Read the introduction for the full rationale
- Read the specification for the technical details