The Rise, Core Principles, and Applications of Explainable Artificial Intelligence in Sustainable Development
Ewa Wanda Ziemba · 2025
This chapter explores the principles, design practices, and applications of Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI), a subfield of Artificial Intelligence (AI). It emphasizes the transformative potential of XAI in fostering transparency, interpretability, and trust in AI systems across various domains. The chapter provides a comprehensive overview of XAI’s foundational principles, highlighting its role in addressing the challenges posed by “black-box” AI models. Examining practical applications linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including agriculture, healthcare, energy, and urban planning, demonstrates how XAI contributes to ethical decision-making and societal impact. Using illustrative examples from Poland and globally, the chapter underscores the importance of XAI in promoting responsible and sustainable AI adoption. This synthesis contributes to the theoretical understanding of XAI and offers actionable insights for researchers, developers, and policymakers aiming to harness the potential of AI technologies responsibly and effectively.