Why AI Billing Disputes Need Evidence Standards, Not Better Algorithms

AI cost allocation disputes persist in 2026 not because allocation formulas are flawed, but because evidence trails are incomplete and irreproducible. The FOCUS standard body's ongoing work on split-allocation guidance and actor attribution reveals that operating teams still struggle with implementation gaps between data generators and auditors. Establishing a minimal evidence-anchor bundle—just six key fields—converts policy arguments into objective, reproducible checks, dramatically reducing dispute cycles and separating attribution evidence from pricing decisions.