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Feature Importance

A set of techniques that quantify the contribution of each input feature to a model's predictions, aiding in understanding model behaviour and identifying potential biases.

In plain language

A ranking of which inputs matter most to the AI. For a house price predictor, feature importance might show that location matters 50%, size 30% and age 20%.

Why this matters

Feature importance analysis is a governance tool that helps identify whether AI models are relying on inappropriate or discriminatory inputs. Including feature importance reviews in your AI audit process supports fairness objectives and helps detect unintended correlations that could undermine trust.

Relevance

Governance

Feature importance enables auditors and risk managers to verify that AI decisions align with organisational fairness principles and regulatory expectations.

Putting feature importance into practice in your organisation?

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