Cultural and Social Perspectives on Explainable AI Ethics

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly embedded in socio-technical systems that shape human life, from healthcare and finance to education and social media. While technical explainability enhances transparency and accountability, the ethical interpretation of AI decisions is profoundly influenced by cultural and social contexts. Explainable AI (XAI) must therefore be evaluated not only for its technical clarity but also for its resonance with diverse cultural values, social norms, and societal expectations. This paper investigates cultural and social perspectives on explainable AI ethics, highlighting how ethical priorities, trust, interpretability, and fairness vary across contexts. It proposes a framework for culturally-aware XAI design that integrates social norms, participatory governance, and contextualized transparency to promote equitable and ethically aligned AI deployment globally.

Keywords: Explainable AI, AI Ethics, Cultural Perspectives, Social Norms, Trust