Explainable AI in PLM
The requirement that AI systems used in engineering and PLM workflows produce outputs that qualified engineers can understand, interrogate, and explain to auditors, regulators, or customers — as opposed to black-box outputs whose basis cannot be traced.
Why it matters
In regulated industries, design decisions must be traceable to technical rationale. If an AI copilot suggests a structural modification and the engineer cannot explain why that modification is valid, the suggestion cannot be used in a regulated design context — making explainability a functional requirement, not a philosophical preference.
External References
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Cite this definition
Finocchiaro, Michael. “Explainable AI in PLM.” DemystifyingPLM PLM Glossary, 2026, https://www.demystifyingplm.com/glossary/explainable-ai-in-plm