True Human Mark
Transparency through evidence.
True Human Mark provides a standardized, evidence based way for writers and publishers to document and communicate how written work was created.
Launching in Indianapolis & Central IndianaCertification available nationwide
The problem
AI has made it increasingly difficult to know how written content was produced.
A byline identifies the publisher or author. It does not explain the production process.
Readers, clients, and publishers increasingly want to understand how content was created — not just who published it. True Human Mark is building the standard that makes that possible.
What THM certifies
What does True Human Mark certify?
THM evaluates evidence of human involvement in the production of a defined written work according to the applicable certification standard. Certification is based on evidence — not simply a creator's unsupported claim.
Examples of relevant evidence
- Working drafts and revision history
- Research notes and source materials
- Interview notes and correspondence
- Editorial records and assignment documents
- Creator attestations
- Document and version history
Certification scope
Certification applies to a defined work, edition, or submission according to the applicable standard. Certifying one work does not automatically certify everything produced by that creator.
When the pilot launches, THM will certify original written content, with a focus on sports journalists, newspaper reporters, art critics and reviewers, and local pop culture writers.
How it works
How certification works
01
Submit your work
When the pilot launches, writers and publishers will submit a defined written work along with supporting documentation of the creation process.
02
Evidence is evaluated
THM will review submitted evidence against the applicable certification standard. Certification will be based on evidence, not unsupported claims.
03
Certification is issued
A certification decision will be made and recorded. The certification will apply to the specific work submitted, not to all future work by that creator.
Certification standards
Certification designations
THM certification designations reflect the level of human involvement documented in the production of a specific written work. Each designation has defined requirements and evidence standards.
Human Made
The work was produced through human effort. Generative AI was not used in the substantive creation of the content.
AI Assisted
The work was human created with AI used in a supporting role. Human judgment and authorship remained primary throughout the process.
AI Made
Generative AI produced a substantial or primary portion of the content. Human involvement in the production process is documented.
Final certification standards and detailed requirements are in development. This page will be updated as standards are finalized.
View full certification standardsEvidence and documentation
Certification is based on documentation, not detection.
THM's purpose is to establish a consistent framework for documenting human involvement. No single AI detector can conclusively establish authorship. THM evaluates the evidence of how a work was produced.
Evidence requirements may vary depending on the certification designation and the applicable standard.
- Working drafts and revision history
- Research notes and source materials
- Interview notes and correspondence
- Editorial records and assignment documents
- Creator attestations
- Document and version history
Who it's for
Built for writers
True Human Mark is built for journalists, newsletter publishers, bloggers, essayists, and other writers of short-form content who want to show readers and editors that their work is their own.
Independent writers
Journalists, bloggers, newsletter publishers, and editorial writers who want a documented record of how their work was produced.
Newsletter publishers
Publishers who want to give subscribers a certified transparency signal about how their content is created.
Editorial teams
Organizations that want a consistent, standardized framework for documenting and communicating their editorial process.
What you gain
What writers will get from THM certification
Document your process
Keep an organized, evidence-based record of how your work was created — drafts, research, sources, and editorial correspondence.
Answer authorship questions with confidence
Have a clear, standardized record ready if an editor, client, or reader asks how a piece was written.
Give readers a way to check
Readers will be able to look up a certification record. A public certification system is being built for the Winter 2026 pilot.
The badge
Penvera
Penvera is the working name for the certification mark True Human Mark LLC is developing for certified works. The name combines pen and vera, the Latin word for truth.
The sample badge shows Penvera with the words Certified by True Human Mark LLC. Penvera remains subject to trademark clearance and filing, so this artwork is illustrative only and is not a final certification badge.
AI Made remains a reviewed disclosure label and does not carry Penvera.
For writers
Help shape the standard
Take our 10–15 minute creator survey. Your answers help us build a certification that works for real writers.
Take the creator surveyWhy transparency matters
We are pro-transparency, not anti-AI.
The purpose of True Human Mark is not to prohibit AI use or to judge the value of AI-assisted work. The purpose is to make the production process more understandable and verifiable.
Readers, clients, and publishers deserve a consistent, standardized way to understand how content was created. Writers and publishers deserve a credible way to document and communicate their process.
What THM does — and does not do.
THM does...
- Establish standards and define terms
- Define evidence requirements for each certification designation
- Review submitted evidence against the applicable standard
- Issue certification decisions based on evidence
- Maintain certification records
- Provide a public certification lookup
- Provide a dispute and appeal process
THM does not...
- Prohibit AI use
- Assume AI use automatically makes a work less valuable
- Rely solely on AI detectors
- Automatically certify every work created by a certified creator
- Make unsupported claims about authorship
- Certify categories outside its published scope
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is True Human Mark?
True Human Mark is developing an evidence-based certification standard for human involvement in written content. THM evaluates documentation of the creation process and issues certification decisions based on the applicable standard.
What does THM certify?
THM certifies defined written works — a specific article, newsletter issue, essay, or other written submission. Certification applies to the work submitted, not to all future work by that creator.
Does THM certify the creator or the work?
THM certifies the work, not the creator. Each submission is evaluated individually against the applicable certification standard.
Can AI-assisted work receive certification?
Certification designations address different levels of human involvement, including work where AI tools were used in a supporting role. The applicable standard defines what qualifies for each designation.
Does THM use AI detectors?
THM does not rely solely on AI detectors. No single AI detector can conclusively establish authorship. THM evaluates documentation and evidence of the creation process.
What evidence is required?
Evidence requirements vary by certification designation and applicable standard. Examples include working drafts, revision history, research notes, source materials, interview notes, editorial correspondence, and creator attestations.
What if I don't have version history?
Evidence requirements and acceptable alternatives will be defined in the applicable certification standard. Where a specific type of evidence is unavailable, the standard will address what alternatives may be considered.
Can collaborative work be certified?
How collaborative authorship is treated will be addressed in the applicable certification standard. This includes co-authors, editors, researchers, translators, and accessibility tools.
How do I check a THM certification?
THM will provide a public certification lookup where anyone can enter a certification ID to view the certification record. The public record will show the certification designation, scope, date issued, and current status.
What information becomes public?
The public certification record will show the certification designation, scope, date issued, and current status. Submitted evidence is treated as confidential and is not disclosed publicly.
The pilot launches Winter 2026. Be the first to know.
If you are a writer who wants to document your process and give your audience a certified transparency signal, send AJ a message and we will follow up with pilot updates.