What is the relationship between AutoML and explainable AI (XAI)?

AutoML (Automated Machine Learning) and explainable AI (XAI) are complementary approaches that address different challenges in machine learning. AutoML focuses on automating repetitive tasks like model selection, hyperparameter tuning, and feature engineering to make ML accessible to non-experts and reduce development time. XAI, on the other hand, aims to make AI models transparent by providing insights into how they make decisions. The relationship between them lies in balancing automation with interpretability: AutoML streamlines model creation, while XAI ensures the resulting models are understandable and trustworthy, especially in high-stakes applications.

One key challenge arises when AutoML-generated models are complex (e.g., deep learning ensembles or automatically optimized pipelines), which can obscure how inputs map to predictions. For example, an AutoML tool might select a black-box model like a gradient-boosted tree ensemble, which performs well but lacks inherent explainability. Here, XAI techniques like SHAP (Shapley Additive Explanations) or LIME (Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanations) can be applied post-training to explain predictions. A developer using AutoML for a healthcare application might rely on XAI to generate feature importance scores, showing which patient variables influenced a diagnosis. Without XAI, stakeholders might distrust or misuse AutoML models due to their opacity.

The integration of XAI into AutoML tools is becoming a practical necessity. Many AutoML frameworks, such as H2O Driverless AI or Google’s Vertex AI, now include built-in explainability features. For instance, H2O automatically generates model-specific explanations, including decision trees simplified for readability or partial dependence plots. Developers can use these to validate that AutoML models align with domain knowledge or regulatory requirements, such as GDPR’s “right to explanation.” However, this integration requires careful design—automated pipelines must preserve metadata for XAI techniques to work effectively. By combining AutoML’s efficiency with XAI’s transparency, developers can create models that are both high-performing and auditable, ensuring they meet technical and ethical standards.