Provenance
Every assertion stays linked to its source evidence and runtime history. A message may outlive an assertion derived from it.
Memory & Knowledge · CKPE
Memory is more than what fits in a prompt.
CKPE—the Canonical Knowledge and Provenance Engine—answers: what is known, why is it trusted, when was it true, who may access it, and what remains contested?
Canonical knowledge + provenance, not just retrieval
Supported · Based on approved source, current as of 2026-08-10
Candidate — not yet treated as canonical knowledge
Contradicted · Two sources differ
Superseded · Replaced by a later approved record
Every assertion carries provenance, temporal validity and confidence—so memory can be challenged, corrected and traced.
What CKPE is
Canonical knowledge with provenance, time and challenge
CKPE is the canonical owner of memory assertions and retrieval. It is not a chat transcript and not a permanent prompt. It manages evidence-linked assertions, facts, provenance, scope, temporal validity, confidence, contradiction and retention.
Temporal truth
The system knows when something was true, not just what was said. Historical knowledge is distinct from current knowledge.
Challenge
Confidence, contradiction, supersession and correction are explicit. Memory can be challenged rather than merely trusted.
The difference
Chat history vs governed continuity
Select a problem to reveal how governed continuity responds.
Chat history / generic RAG
- Old, superseded or unsupported content can return as if it were current fact.
- No distinction between a claim and verified evidence.
Governed continuity
- CKPE separates records, assertions, evidence, facts, provenance, temporal validity, confidence, contradiction and supersession.
- Memory can be challenged, corrected and traced.
Chat history / generic RAG
- Consent, access, delegation and permission to act are not separated or recorded.
Governed continuity
- Identity, authority, consent and disclosure boundaries are explicit and recorded.
- High-impact action remains policy- and authority-bound.
Chat history / generic RAG
- Relevant context is repeatedly re-explained; commitments and prior decisions can be lost.
Governed continuity
- A continuity loop carries authorised context, commitments and evidence into the next moment.
Chat history / generic RAG
- One model defines the assistant; provider changes can alter behaviour and continuity.
Governed continuity
- Identity, decisions and scene contracts are provider-neutral; approved models are routed by capability, policy, risk, cost and availability.
Chat history / generic RAG
- Collaboration collapses to one summary; minority positions and dissent disappear.
Governed continuity
- Shared understanding represents agreements, uncertainty, tension, dissent and protected perspectives without forcing consensus.
Can be challenged
Evidence, time, uncertainty and contradiction—made explicit
Evidence-linked
"Based on [source/evidence label], current as of [date]." Every material item carries provenance and authority.
Temporal validity
Assertions have a time they were true. Historical and current knowledge are distinguished.
Uncertainty
"Here's what is supported, what is uncertain, and what would clarify it." Confidence and certified absence are explicit states.
Contradiction
Contradictory memories coexist explicitly with confidence, recency, source and status rather than being silently merged.
Correction & supersession
An assertion can be corrected or superseded without erasing the original source evidence.
Traceability
Truth maintenance states include claimed, partially supported, supported, disputed, contradicted, superseded and retracted.
The memory lifecycle
From ephemeral to deleted, with provenance preserved
Candidate is distinct from canonical. Supersession and deletion alter active retrieval without erasing provenance improperly.
Stage 1
Ephemeral
Transient interaction detail, not yet memory.
Stage 2
Candidate
Memory candidate — not yet treated as canonical knowledge.
Stage 3
Canonical
Validated, evidence-linked knowledge with provenance and temporal validity.
Stage 4
Superseded
Replaced by a later record; source evidence preserved.
Stage 5
Archived
Traceable without occupying the active working context.
Stage 6
Deleted
Removed from active retrieval views and derived indexes.
Retention rules
Audit evidence and conversational convenience memory have different retention requirements.
Deletion propagation
Deleted user data disappears from active retrieval views and derived indexes.
Review pending
Some candidates wait in review before becoming canonical.
From evidence to scene-ready context
Source record → assertion → status → scene fact → reasoned response
Before reasoning, information is reduced into usable, evidence-linked facts and context. Essential context wins over optional context; raw evidence remains linked without overwhelming the active scene.
Source record
Meeting minutes, email, ticket, observation — ingested with provenance.
Assertion
Extracted and validated transactionally; runtime history preserved.
Status & provenance
Classed as verified fact, assertion, observation, inference, hypothesis, decision, proposal, commitment, lesson, pattern or unresolved contradiction.
Scene fact
Evidence-linked, time-aware, disclosure-controlled context for the scene.
Reasoned response / decision
Prepared from the bounded scene, validated before release.
Long-running work
Institutional memory without institutional drift
Decisions, rejected alternatives, failures, lessons and accountability are retained so teams do not unknowingly repeat failed decisions.
Decision rationale
Why a decision was made, on what evidence, and with what alternatives.
Rejected alternatives
What was considered and set aside, so it is not unknowingly revisited.
Failures & lessons
Successes, failures, near misses and changed conditions all create reviewable learning.
Privacy & scope
Consent, disclosure and scope govern what is known and shown
Consent & disclosure
Purpose limitation, consent and revocation, and disclosure controls govern use.
Scope & tenancy
Access is scoped by tenant and role. "Some relevant context is protected and is not shown in this view."
Retention & deletion
Legal/retention distinctions are respected, and deletion propagates through derived indexes.
Design continuity for your organisation.
Talk to Humans+ about governed, challengeable memory and evidence-linked knowledge.