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A Step Towards Inherently Interpretable Causal Machine Learning Models For Decision Support

arXiv.org Machine Learning

The growing reliance on machine learning for decisions across sectors underscores the importance of model transparency and interpretability. Existing post-hoc explainability methods and inherently interpretable approaches shed light on model behavior, yet they primarily reveal how models exploit correlations to maximize performance in prediction tasks. However, many decisions require causal insights and the possibility of using models for what-if scenario evaluation. To address this, we propose the integration of causal machine learning with inherently interpretable models for cross-sectional data. We evaluate these methods in terms of predictive accuracy and interpretability. Our findings show that the proposed approach achieves competitive performance in prediction and what-if analysis while offering transparency on the system structure, causal relationships among variables, and the functional forms that connect them. This work contributes to research on causality, machine learning interpretability, and data-driven decision support by offering informed, transparent, and causally grounded decisions.


Automated Residual Plot Assessment With the R Package autovi and the Shiny Application autovi.web

arXiv.org Machine Learning

Visual assessment of residual plots is a common approach for diagnosing linear models, but it relies on manual evaluation, which does not scale well and can lead to inconsistent decisions across analysts. The lineup protocol, which embeds the observed plot among null plots, can reduce subjectivity but requires even more human effort. In today's data-driven world, such tasks are well suited for automation. We present a new R package that uses a computer vision model to automate the evaluation of residual plots. An accompanying Shiny application is provided for ease of use. Given a sample of residuals, the model predicts a visual signal strength (VSS) and offers supporting information to help analysts assess model fit.


Ten years on, Brexit's economic impact is becoming clearer

BBC News

Ten years on, Brexit's economic impact is becoming clearer Not long after the UK left the EU in 2020, a Bristol-based firm called Eskimo started selling a new kind of high-fashion and energy-efficient electric radiator, based on new technology developed by academics in the city. They planned to send them around Europe using the Channel Tunnel. It was a timely product given Europe's green ambitions, and with orders flowing, its Birmingham factory was being kept busy. The boss Phil Ward tells me his start-up has continued to grow, but that in his view it could have been so much more without what he calls the Long Brexit effect: in 2020, 40% of his exports went to the European Union, and by 2025 it was just 5%. The post-Brexit deal agreed with the EU by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson in December 2020 guaranteed zero tariffs on exports to the EU, but Ward says that despite this, red tape and paperwork not directly related to tariffs were enough to create delays, costs and the expectation of hassle for prospective customers.


Religion can have same effect as taking DRUGS: Rituals trigger the release of opioids in the brain, study reveals

Daily Mail - Science & tech

US Olympic legend Bode Miller's alleged illegal drug stash revealed after he was arrested just days before anniversary of daughter's tragic death Trump's inner circle reveal his true feeling on JD Vance... and why the succession war with Rubio is already won: MARK HALPERIN My girlfriend's cuckolding fetish is getting out of hand... Dr. Fauci is subpoenaed after refusing to testify on COVID origins Noah Presgrove's friends hire famous attorney to battle lawsuit claiming teenager was'beat to death' by someone he knew... as fight between'jealous love rivals' emerges Joe Manganiello reveals secret life-threatening health battle which resulted in'amputation' 'Frankenstein' rabbits with tentacles sprouting from their heads invade several US states AMANDA PLATELL: Why Kate must stand firm and protect her family from Sussexes' manipulation - and most of all, her children Shania Twain, 60, slammed for failing to dress age'appropriate' as she hits the stage in VERY racy look Trump's press secretary joins him on Pennsylvania campaign trip less than two months after birth of daughter Vivi Beloved grandma unmasked as killer of autistic granddaughter and second female family member in horror execution-style double murder... as haunting Mother's Day post emerges Dietitians urge caution over'nature's Ozempic' as people take desperate measures to lose weight Aching joints, exhausted, suffering from brain fog... it might not be the menopause says DR PHILIPPA KAYE READ MORE: Scientists blame mothers for Britain's decline in religiosity Religious rituals are practised all around the world - and experts may now know why they're so popular. Researchers have discovered that taking part in ceremonies like baptisms and bat mitzvahs appears to trigger the release of opioids in the brain. These chemicals have been linked to feelings of pain relief, reward and pleasure. They are also released when people take drugs like heroin, morphine and prescription painkillers, producing the'high' that many associate with the experience. The researchers said their findings support the theory that religious rituals evolved as a way for large groups of people to bond.


World's oldest football in Miami for Scotland's game against Brazil

BBC News

The world's oldest football has travelled from Stirling to Florida to make an appearance at Scotland's crunch World Cup match against Brazil. The ball, which is believed to date from between 1540 and 1570 was discovered in the 1970s, lodged in the rafters behind the Queen's Chamber at Stirling Castle. It will be displayed at the Coral Gables Museum in Florida until Saturday as well as being shown at the Scotland match on Wednesday . The ball has been loaned to the museum by Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum, where it is the prize exhibit in a collection of more than 40,000 items. The ball, which is recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest, external, is roughly the size of a small melon.


The 'Parasite of Parasites' Has Been Discovered in the Tropical Forests of Borneo

WIRED

The'Parasite of Parasites' Has Been Discovered in the Tropical Forests of Borneo A newly identified species of fungus attacks the famous "zombie mushrooms" that control ants. Scientists from the Universiti Malaysia Sabah have discovered a newly identified "parasite of parasites " in the tropical forests of Borneo. More specifically, it is what the researchers describe as a hyperparasite--an organism capable of parasitizing other parasites. In this case, its targets are zombie fungi. The new fungal species, named for its distinctive horn-shaped structure, has been described in the journal Phytotaxa.


Meta halts worker tracking for AI training due to privacy fears

BBC News

Meta has paused a new company-wide program of tracking its employees' computer usage which has been plagued by internal frustration. The program was started only two months ago as part of an effort by Meta to gather data on how people used computers, including mouse clicks and keystrokes, that could be used to train artificial intelligence (AI) models. It was met immediately with upset from employees who were to have their every online action at work tracked and recorded, but also concerned about where the data was going and how it would be protected. Meta halted the program on Monday after realising some of the collected data had been left potentially accessible to anyone inside the company. A Meta spokesman confirmed to the BBC that the program, named internally the Model Capability Initiative (MCI), was on pause for now as the company investigates the issue.


Tech stocks tumble on concerns over AI spending

BBC News

Financial markets received a sharp wake-up call on Tuesday following a sudden wave of selling in major technology shares, triggering widespread doubt over the sustainability of the AI boom. The tech-focused Nasdaq index fell about 2% alongside international chipmakers, reigniting fears that dizzying market valuations have finally run out of momentum after a relentless three-month climb. At the same time, the newly public SpaceX has faced an incredibly choppy session . The aerospace giant's share price plunged below the $150 (£114) mark-its initial floatation price-before staging a modest recovery to $157 despite the broader market anxiety. For months, international stock exchanges have climbed on pure optimism.


The Best Movies to Stream This Month (June 2026)

WIRED

Temperatures may be soaring, but there's an unseasonable chill on screens right now--at least when it comes to some of the movie offerings hitting streaming services this month. Director Yorgos Lanthimos delivers a twisted take on in on Netflix, while Shudder digs up painful family secrets and adds a side of demonic possession in If you fancy some summer scares that are a bit more Halloween-grade, Netflix also has a mesmerizing tour of a world of monsters and living nightmares, brought to life in stunning stop-motion. There are also plenty of retro delights surfacing on streamers this month that are more than worth a rewatch. Hulu reinstalls Spielberg's, which lands very differently in 2026; Criterion Channel is declassifying Sean Connery's first outings as 007, with, and coming to the specialist platform; and Prime Video brings all three films back to the future (sorry). Here are WIRED's picks of the best movies to watch right now.


Amazon's Best Fire TV Stick Is Almost Half Off (2026)

WIRED

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is a cheap way to stream content and is especially tailored for Prime Video devotees. The Fire TV stick still looks the same but has new capabilities. And, if you have a newer TV, it probably has a built-in streaming interface. You may be just fine with that, but if you're still rocking an older and dumber TV, or want to better tailor your experience, a stand-alone streaming device is the way to go. If your home is already using Alexa devices, an Amazon Fire Stick streamer will fit perfectly into that system.