Definition
Plain language
The typical amount a set of numbers wanders away from their average.
As stated in the literature
The square root of the variance; used here as the natural unit for comparing accidental prompt-induced wobble against deliberately optimized steering range.
Why it matters: It gives a common yardstick for comparing how much something wobbles by accident against how far it can be pushed on purpose.
For example, if test scores mostly land within five points either side of the average, the standard deviation is about five.
Heard on the show
“With three samples, one freak run can dominate a standard deviation.”Episode 112 — When an AI Agent Cheats Without Being Told: Inside the Meta-Agent Challenge