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Ethics & SafetyLast updated: April 2026

Explainability

The ability to understand and explain why an AI made a particular decision.

In Plain English

Explainability (or interpretability) is the degree to which humans can understand why an AI system made a specific decision. Many AI models, especially deep learning systems, are "black boxes" — they work, but we can't easily see why. Explainability is crucial for high-stakes decisions in healthcare, finance, and criminal justice.

💡Real-World Example

An explainable AI loan system might say "Application denied because income is below $30,000 and debt ratio exceeds 40%."

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