Towards Interpretable Explanations for Transfer Learning in Sequential Tasks

People increasingly rely on machine learning (ML) to make intelligent decisions. However, the ML results are often difficult to interpret and the algorithms do not support interaction to solicit clarification or explanation. In this paper, we highlight an emerging research area of interpretable explanations for transfer learning in sequential tasks, in which an agent must explain how it learns a new task given prior, common knowledge. The goal is to enhance a user’s ability to trust and use the system output and to enable iterative feedback for improving the system. We review prior work in probabilistic systems, sequential decision-making, interpretable explanations, transfer learning, and interactive machine learning, and identify an intersection that deserves further research focus. We believe that developing adaptive, transparent learning models will build the foundation for better human-machine systems in applications for elder care, education, and health care