Explanation as a Social Practice: Toward a Conceptual Framework for the Social Design of AI Systems

One objective of current research in explainable intelligent systems is to implement social aspects in order to increase the relevance of explanations. In this paper, we argue that a novel conceptual framework is needed to overcome shortcomings of existing AI systems with little attention to processes of interaction and learning. Drawing from research in interaction and development, we first outline the novel conceptual framework that pushes the design of AI systems toward true interactivity with an emphasis on the role of the partner and social relevance. We propose that AI systems will be able to provide a meaningful and relevant explanation only if the process of explaining is extended to active contribution of both partners that brings about dynamics that is modulated by different levels of analysis. Accordingly, our conceptual framework comprises monitoring and scaffolding as key concepts and claims that the process of explaining is not only modulated by the interaction between explainee and explainer but is embedded into a larger social context in which conventionalized and routinized behaviors are established. We discuss our conceptual framework in relation to the established objectives of transparency and autonomy that are raised for the design of explainable AI systems currently.