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arXiv · 2503.03443

Conceptualizing Uncertainty: A Concept-based Approach to Explaining Uncertainty

Isaac Roberts·Alexander Schulz·Sarah Schroeder·Fabian Hinder·Barbara Hammer
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Abstract

Uncertainty in machine learning refers to the degree of confidence or lack thereof in a model's predictions. While uncertainty quantification methods exist, explanations of uncertainty, especially in high-dimensional settings, remain an open challenge. Existing work focuses on feature attribution approaches which are restricted to local explanations. Understanding uncertainty, its origins, and characteristics on a global scale is crucial for enhancing interpretability and trust in a model's predictions. In this work, we propose to explain the uncertainty in high-dimensional data classification settings by means of concept activation vectors which give rise to local and global explanations of uncertainty. We demonstrate the utility of the generated explanations by leveraging them to refine and improve our model.

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Isaac Roberts, Alexander Schulz, Sarah Schroeder, Fabian Hinder, Barbara Hammer. 2025-03-05. Conceptualizing Uncertainty: A Concept-based Approach to Explaining Uncertainty. https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.03443

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