Artificial intelligence · Technical definition
Deterministic system.
Definition
A system whose output is determined by its input and configured rules: under the same conditions, it produces the same result. Many generative systems are stochastic and require a different evaluation approach.
Nature
Operational definition
Further detail
This distinction changes the audit. A deterministic rule can be tested against expected cases; a stochastic system requires samples, metrics and distribution analysis. In both cases, version, configuration and context must be controlled.
Applied example
A calculator is deterministic under a fixed configuration. A generative model may respond differently to the same prompt; its evaluation cannot rely on a single output.