Black box

Current consensus

Black box refers to a system, algorithm, or process whose internal workings are hidden or not transparent to the user or observer, in the context of data and technology. This lack of transparency means that you may not have insight into how the system processes data or makes decisions, making it difficult to understand or interpret its actions.

Explanation

In the field of machine learning and artificial intelligence, for example, a black-box model is one in which the relationships between inputs and outputs are not easily interpretable. These models can provide accurate predictions but offer limited visibility into why a particular decision or prediction was made. This lack of interpretability can be a concern in critical applications where understanding the rationale behind a decision is essential, such as in healthcare, finance, or legal contexts.