AVOL™ Output Semantics Specification
Status: Normative
Version: 1.1
Effective Date: 09-January-2026
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Status / Scope / Audience / Applicability
Status: Normative
Scope: Semantic definition of AVOL Evaluation Outputs
Audience: Regulators, integrators, auditors, AI governance reviewers, legal analysts
Applicability: All AVOL-conformant systems, including AVOL-Base and AVOL-Beta
1. Semantic Nature of an AVOL Evaluation Output
1.1. Definition
An AVOL Evaluation Output is a deterministic, scalar representation of the quantifiable, non-price value components associated with a single transactional option, expressed in a standardized monetary denomination under a declared evaluation context.
Canonical AVOL outputs represent normalized non-price value components only; base price is admissible for evaluation completeness and downstream derivation but is not included in the canonical scalar unless explicitly specified by the governing ruleset.
1.2. What the Output Represents
An AVOL Evaluation Output represents:
1.2.1. The arithmetically aggregated monetary equivalents of explicitly defined, non-price value components that are:
- Knowable at the moment of evaluation, and
- Converted using declared, inspectable conversion rules.
- “Knowable” means available through declared inputs and externally defined rules without inference, estimation, or probabilistic assumption.
1.2.2. A value representation, not a decision artifact or evaluative judgment.
1.2.3. A context-bound measurement of an option’s translated value under a specific, declared ruleset.
1.3. Semantic Commitments
An AVOL Evaluation Output commits only to the following:
1.3.1. That the value components included were converted and aggregated according to the declared AVOL ruleset.
1.3.2. That identical inputs under the same ruleset yield identical outputs.
1.3.3. That the output is numerically comparable to other AVOL outputs generated under the same ruleset.
1.4. What the Output Does Not Represent
An AVOL Evaluation Output does not represent:
1.4.1. A recommendation, endorsement, or suggestion.
1.4.2. A ranking or ordering of options.
1.4.3. A prediction of outcomes, behavior, satisfaction, or realized benefit.
1.4.4. A personalized valuation for any specific individual.
1.4.5. A probability, expectation, or likelihood of value realization.
1.4.6. An optimization target or objective function.
2. Intrinsic Semantic Properties
2.1. Scalar Meaning
2.1.1. The output is a single scalar numeric value.
2.1.2. It has no intrinsic directionality, preference, or optimization semantics.
2.1.3. Numeric magnitude within an AVOL output conveys no directive, preferential, or ordering semantics and does not imply suitability, recommendation, or selection.
2.2. Normalization Semantics
2.2.1. All included components are normalized into a common monetary unit using declared conversion constants.
2.2.2. Normalization is mechanical and arithmetic, not heuristic or adaptive, and does not incorporate judgment, preference, or outcome weighting.
2.2.3. No weighting, prioritization, or contextual adjustment is performed within AVOL.
2.2.4. Conversion constants are declared, versioned parameters. They may be sourced from externally published valuations or defined methodologies, as fixed and declared by the governing ruleset version. AVOL does not infer, personalize, adapt, or optimize conversion constants per user, option, counterparty, or outcome.
2.2.5. The source or methodology for any conversion constant is fixed per ruleset version and SHALL NOT be selected, altered, or substituted at evaluation time.
2.3. Context Binding
Each output is semantically bound to:
2.3.1. A specific transactional option.
2.3.2. A specific evaluation moment or parameter set.
2.3.3. A specific, versioned ruleset.
2.3.4. The output has no semantic meaning outside that declared context.
2.4. Determinism
2.4.1. The output is fully deterministic.
2.4.2. No randomness, learning, inference, or adaptive logic is permitted.
2.4.3. Determinism holds across users, systems, time, and presentation layers, given identical inputs and ruleset version.
2.5. Inspectability
Inspectable means that all inputs, constants, and transformations are explicitly disclosed and mechanically decomposable; it does not imply certification, validation, or independent audit.
2.5.1. Every output must be decomposable into explicit arithmetic operations.
2.5.2. All conversion constants and aggregation logic must be declarable and inspectable.
2.5.3. Black-box, probabilistic, or non-inspectable processes are prohibited within the AVOL boundary.
3. Non-Semantic and Prohibited Interpretations
3.1. Explicitly Excluded Meanings
The following interpretations are explicitly excluded and invalid:
3.1.1. “Higher output means a better choice.”
3.1.2. “Lower output means inferior value.”
3.1.3. “The output reflects user preferences or priorities.”
3.1.4. “The output accounts for likelihood of use, redemption, or satisfaction.”
3.1.5. “The output incorporates platform incentives, commissions, or margins.”
3.2. Invalid Inferences
Any inference that treats an AVOL Evaluation Output as:
3.2.1. A decision signal,
3.2.2. A recommendation signal,
3.2.3. A ranking input produced by AVOL,
3.2.4. An optimization result,
constitutes a semantic violation of AVOL’s defined meaning.
4. Comparability Semantics
4.1. When Outputs Are Comparable
Two or more AVOL Evaluation Outputs are comparable only if:
4.1.1. They are generated under the same declared ruleset.
4.1.2. They use the same normalization logic and conversion constants.
4.1.3. They are expressed in the same monetary denomination.
4.2. Meaning of Comparability
Comparability means only that:
4.2.1. Numeric differences between outputs reflect only differences in the translated value components included.
4.2.2. Outputs can be arithmetically contrasted without further translation.
4.3. What Comparability Does Not Mean
Comparability does not imply:
4.3.1. Preference.
4.3.2. Superiority or inferiority.
4.3.3. Selection guidance.
4.3.4. Ordering or ranking.
4.3.5. Decision readiness.
Comparability is a property of representation, not an instruction to act.
5. Representation and Labeling Constraints
5.1. Permissible Labels
An AVOL Evaluation Output may be labeled or described using neutral descriptors such as:
5.1.1. “Normalized value”
5.1.2. “Translated value”
5.1.3. “Value representation”
5.1.4. “Scalar value output”
5.1.5. “Monetary-equivalent value”
Such labels must not introduce directional or decision-shaping language.
5.2. Prohibited Framing
The following framing constitutes semantic distortion and is prohibited:
5.2.1. “Best value”
5.2.2. “Cheapest after rewards”
5.2.3. “Optimal choice”
5.2.4. “Recommended option”
5.2.5. “Rank #1”
5.2.6. “Savings”
5.2.7. “Effective price” or “net cost” when used to imply a decision outcome
Labels or descriptors must not embed comparative conclusions or behavioral guidance.
6. Machine and AI Agent Semantics
6.1. Machine Consumption
AVOL Evaluation Outputs may be consumed by machines and automated systems as:
6.1.1. Numeric reference data.
6.1.2. Comparable scalar inputs.
6.1.3. Upstream value representations.
6.2. Mandatory Non-Assumptions for Agents
Systems consuming AVOL outputs must not assume that the output:
6.2.1. Encodes preference or intent.
6.2.2. Represents a recommendation.
6.2.3. Reflects likelihood of benefit realization.
6.2.4. Is optimized for any objective.
6.3. Separation from Decisions
6.3.1. An AVOL Evaluation Output is not a decision, ranking, or prediction, even when consumed by an AI agent.
6.3.2. Any decisioning, ranking, optimization, or inference must occur entirely outside the AVOL semantic boundary.
7. Boundary of Semantic Responsibility
7.1. Termination of Responsibility
AVOL’s semantic responsibility terminates at:
7.1.1. The production of a deterministic, inspectable, normalized scalar value.
7.1.2. The exposure of that value in a machine-readable form.
7.2. Downstream Interpretation
All downstream actions—including ranking, recommendation, optimization, personalization, or prediction—are:
7.2.1. Outside the AVOL semantic layer,
7.2.2. Not attributed to AVOL,
7.2.3. Not implied or endorsed by AVOL.
7.3. Non-Guarantees
AVOL provides no guarantees regarding:
7.3.1. User outcomes.
7.3.2. Decision quality.
7.3.3. Behavioral impact.
7.3.4. Economic optimization.
7.3.5. Correctness of downstream interpretations.
7.4. Non-Agency / Non-Fiduciary Clarification
7.4.1. AVOL does not act as an agent, advisor, fiduciary, broker, or representative of any user, merchant, platform, or downstream system, and no AVOL Evaluation Output creates or implies any duty of care, duty of loyalty, or advisory obligation.
7.4.2. This clarification applies notwithstanding any downstream labeling, framing, presentation, or characterization of AVOL Evaluation Outputs by third parties.
8. Summary of Semantic Constraints (Normative) – An AVOL Evaluation Output:
8.1. Is: a neutral, deterministic value representation.
8.2. Is not: a recommendation, ranking, decision, or prediction.
8.3. May be: compared numerically under identical rulesets.
8.4. Must not: imply preference, optimization, or guidance.
8.5. Terminates: strictly at semantic representation.
Any system, interface, or agent that treats an AVOL Evaluation Output as anything beyond a neutral value representation is operating outside the AVOL semantic contract.