Show Me How You Decided
If AI makes a decision about you, you deserve to know why.
You were turned down for a job you were perfect for. The rejection email said the decision was made with the help of AI-powered screening. You ask why. They say they cannot explain it — the AI just decided. No reasons. No feedback. Just a black box that controls your future.
What This Means
When an AI system makes a decision or recommendation that affects you, you should be able to understand how it reached that conclusion. This does not mean you need to read computer code — it means the system should be able to explain, in plain language, what factors it considered and why it reached its conclusion. No more "the algorithm decided" with no further explanation.
A Real-World Scenario
Sarah applied for health insurance and was quoted a premium three times higher than her neighbor with a similar profile. The insurance company used an AI risk assessment tool but could not explain why Sarah was rated differently. It turned out the AI was using her zip code as a proxy for lifestyle risk — effectively penalizing her for where she lived. Once the process was made transparent, the discriminatory pattern was identified and corrected.
Why It Matters to You
Because you cannot challenge what you cannot understand. If an AI denies your insurance claim, rejects your resume, or flags your social media post, you need to know why. Transparency is not a luxury — it is the foundation of fairness.
For the technically inclined
AP-2.2: Transparent Decision Chains
AI decision processes must be explainable and traceable. Stakeholders should be able to understand how an AI system arrived at a given output or recommendation.
What You Can Do
When an AI-driven decision affects you, ask for an explanation in writing. In many countries, you already have the legal right to one under data protection laws. Use it. If a company cannot explain how their AI works, consider whether you want to do business with them.