Approximating Score-based Explanation Techniques Using Conformal Regression
2023 (English)In: Proceedings of Machine Learning Research / [ed] H. Papadopoulos, K. A. Nguyen, H. Boström, L. Carlsson, ML Research Press , 2023, Vol. 204, p. 450-469Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]
Score-based explainable machine-learning techniques are often used to understand the logic behind black-box models. However, such explanation techniques are often computationally expensive, which limits their application in time-critical contexts. Therefore, we propose and investigate the use of computationally less costly regression models for approximating the output of score-based explanation techniques, such as SHAP. Moreover, validity guarantees for the approximated values are provided by the employed inductive conformal prediction framework. We propose several non-conformity measures designed to take the difficulty of approximating the explanations into account while keeping the computational cost low. We present results from a large-scale empirical investigation, in which the approximate explanations generated by our proposed models are evaluated with respect to efficiency (interval size). The results indicate that the proposed method can significantly improve execution time compared to the fast version of SHAP, TreeSHAP. The results also suggest that the proposed method can produce tight intervals, while providing validity guarantees. Moreover, the proposed approach allows for comparing explanations of different approximation methods and selecting a method based on how informative (tight) are the predicted intervals.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
ML Research Press , 2023. Vol. 204, p. 450-469
Keywords [en]
Explainable machine learning, Inductive conformal prediction, Multi-target regression, Computation theory, Conformal mapping, Regression analysis, Black box modelling, Conformal predictions, Machine learning techniques, Machine-learning, Multi-targets, Target regression, Time-critical, Machine learning
National Category
Computer and Information Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-63086Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85178664754OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hj-63086DiVA, id: diva2:1821198
Conference
12th Symposium on Conformal and Probabilistic Prediction with Applications, COPA 2023 Limassol 13 September 2023 through 15 September 2023
Funder
Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation2023-12-192023-12-192023-12-19Bibliographically approved