What is “glass-box AI”

What glass-box AI is and how it differs from black-box systems.

Glass-box AI refers to systems where the decision-making process is visible and understandable. Unlike black-box AI, where you see the input and output but not the reasoning, glass-box systems are designed so you can follow how a decision was made. That might mean showing which factors influenced an outcome, or using rules that can be traced step by step.

It doesn’t make the system simpler, but it does make it easier to interpret. That matters in situations where decisions need to be explained or challenged, such as finance, healthcare, or hiring.

There’s a trade-off. More transparent systems aren’t always the most powerful or flexible.

So the question shifts slightly: when do we prioritise understanding over performance?