Medium LLM
Understanding AI Evaluation: A Practical Framework for Building Reliable AI Systems
eval
What happened
This article proposes a structured mental model for AI evaluation. Instead of viewing evaluation as a disconnected list of techniques, it structures it around three dimensions: Who/what evaluates (human, LLM, rules), When it happens (offline vs. online), and What is evaluated (individual components vs. end-to-end systems).
Why it matters
It provides a clear, structured framework to help developers choose and implement the right evaluation strategies for complex LLM applications.
The take
While the concepts themselves are not brand new, the structured 3D framework is a highly practical way for engineering teams to systematically design their evaluation pipelines. It helps move teams away from ad-hoc 'vibe checks' toward structured testing.
Do this
Use the three-perspective framework (Who, When, What) to audit and structure your current LLM application testing pipeline.
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