WorldAugust 1, 2026

explainability

ik-PLAY-nuh-BIL-uh-tee

Definition

The degree to which the internal logic, decision-making process, or output rationale of a complex system, such as an AI model, can be understood and interpreted by a human.

Etymology

The word is derived from the verb 'explain,' which comes from the Latin 'explanare,' meaning to flatten out or make clear. It was formed by adding the suffix '-able' and the noun-forming suffix '-ity' to describe the quality of being capable of being explained.

In the news

In the article, the author notes that AI systems often lack explainability, making it difficult for healthcare organizations to audit clinical decisions or fulfill patient rights to understand how their data was processed.

AI in Healthcare: New HIPAA Compliance Challenges for Organizations

Read the full article ↗

securityboulevard.com

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