Is Explainable AI (xAI) the Next Step, or Just Hype? -- Quickpath

Recent years have seen the expansion of artificial intelligence into an array of industries with varying levels of disruption. Once a horizon-technology (perhaps similar to how we now view quantum computing) AI has officially breached everyday life, and informed opinions are no longer reserved for tech enthusiasts and elite data scientists. Now, stakeholders include executives, investors, managers, the government, and ultimately customers. While conversations regarding Explainable AI (xAI) date back decades, the concept emerged with renewed vigor in late 2019 when Google announced its new set of xAI tools for developers. The concept of xAI is relatively simple: historically, machine learning models have operated within a "black box," with outcomes determined by an astounding number of interwoven parameters so complex (in the millions) that explaining them proved impossible.