Grounding

What it is

Grounding means an AI model's output is based on, and traceable to, real sources such as documents, logsLogsTimestamped records of events a system emits as it runs., code, or records, rather than on what the model learned during training.

Why it matters

Support answers have to be right for this customer, this version, this config. Grounding is what makes an AI answer checkable and keeps it from inventing plausible details.

Best practices

1. Cite inline – Link each claim to its source.
2. Prefer primary sources – Code and logs beat a summary written last year.
3. Say 'I don't know' – An answer with no source behind it shouldn't be sent.

How Decimal helps

Every Decimal answer and investigation carries citations to the code, logs, tickets, or docs it used.