For Heads-of · Practitioner
Transparency
The disclosure of information about how an AI system is built, what it does, what it is used for, and what risks it poses, communicated to relevant stakeholders.
- transparency
- disclosure
- accountability
- openness
Definition
Transparency is about openness. It means stakeholders—users, regulators, affected communities—have access to factual information about AI systems affecting them.
Transparency vs Explainability
Transparency is disclosure of what a system is; explainability is explanation of why it did something specific. A system can be transparent but not explainable.
Regulatory Requirement
EU AI Act mandates transparency on the AI systems being used; NIST Generative AI Profile calls for disclosure of capabilities and limitations.