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Glossary entry

Showback

A mechanism for reporting technology cost back to consumers without formally charging them for it.

Why it matters

Showback matters because it creates cost visibility and accountability signals before an organization is ready to move to formal chargeback for AI services, shared platforms, or model consumption.

Showback is often a practical first step in AI governance because it helps business units see what they are consuming and what it costs before more formal cost-transfer models are introduced.