Direct answer
A divergence budget is the amount of variation allowed before an AI output drifts away from the source, brief or brand promise. It lets teams decide what may change, what must stay fixed and when a creative variation has become an unsupported departure.
Why it matters
This answer helps readers keep AI output useful without letting it drift from source truth. It should separate what may vary from what must stay fixed: claims, definitions, proof boundaries, caveats and exclusions.
What to check
- What facts, claims and caveats are locked?
- What may vary: format, tone, length, order or examples?
- What review loop catches drift before publication?
Common mistake
Allowing AI variation to change facts, claims, caveats or source meaning.
Caveats
Low caveat risk: suitable for publication from the available source pack, but still avoid pricing, guarantees, unsupported service promises or claims not visible in the linked public ecosystem.