Explainability
What is Explainability?
The degree to which the internal mechanics of an AI or machine learning system can be explained in human terms. Explainability is a key requirement of the EU AI Act for high-risk AI systems.
Terms that appear alongside explainability
Each of these is named in at least one of the same controls as explainability. The number is how many controls name both.
- transparency 26 shared controls
- governance 12 shared controls
- eu ai act 8 shared controls
- nist 7 shared controls
- accountability 7 shared controls
- ai governance 7 shared controls
- compliance 6 shared controls
- ai transparency 6 shared controls
Frameworks that govern explainability
What the standards actually require on explainability
Requirements naming explainability across 6 standards, quoted from the control text.
Provide stakeholders with appropriate explanations of AI decisions and system behaviour.
23894-A.6 · Transparency and Explainability →Requirement defined in ISO/IEC TR 24028:2020, clause 9.3 (Explainability). See licensed source for normative text. Implementation focus is to demonstrate conformity with the obligations of this clause through the artefacts listed in evidence_requirements.
iso-iec-tr-24028-2020::9.3 · Explainability →Adopt explainability practices so the functioning of the model and how it arrives at decisions can be communicated to relevant stakeholders.
AIGE-OM-5 · Model explainability →Ensure AI decision-making processes can be explained in understandable terms relative to the risk level
AIGF-3.2 · Explainability →Per UK AI Principles: appropriate transparency + explainability + system documentation + cards + maintain transparency to users + regulators.
UKAI-4 · Transparency, Explainability, Documentation →The transparency and explainability of AI systems are necessary preconditions to ensure rights and to allow contestability. The level of transparency shall be appropriate to the context and the impact of the system.
UNESCO-PR-TRANSP · Transparency and explainability →Questions people ask about explainability
What is Explainability?
Why is Explainability important for compliance?
Which compliance frameworks address Explainability?
Where can I learn more about Explainability?
See how Explainability applies across compliance frameworks
Our platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings. Explore how this concept is addressed across standards.