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Main Authors: Wetzel, Sebastian Johann, Ha, Seungwoong, Iten, Raban, Klopotek, Miriam, Liu, Ziming
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.23616
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author Wetzel, Sebastian Johann
Ha, Seungwoong
Iten, Raban
Klopotek, Miriam
Liu, Ziming
author_facet Wetzel, Sebastian Johann
Ha, Seungwoong
Iten, Raban
Klopotek, Miriam
Liu, Ziming
contents Machine learning is increasingly transforming various scientific fields, enabled by advancements in computational power and access to large data sets from experiments and simulations. As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to grow in capability, these algorithms will enable many scientific discoveries beyond human capabilities. Since the primary goal of science is to understand the world around us, fully leveraging machine learning in scientific discovery requires models that are interpretable -- allowing experts to comprehend the concepts underlying machine-learned predictions. Successful interpretations increase trust in black-box methods, help reduce errors, allow for the improvement of the underlying models, enhance human-AI collaboration, and ultimately enable fully automated scientific discoveries that remain understandable to human scientists. This review examines the role of interpretability in machine learning applied to physics. We categorize different aspects of interpretability, discuss machine learning models in terms of both interpretability and performance, and explore the philosophical implications of interpretability in scientific inquiry. Additionally, we highlight recent advances in interpretable machine learning across many subfields of physics. By bridging boundaries between disciplines -- each with its own unique insights and challenges -- we aim to establish interpretable machine learning as a core research focus in science.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2503_23616
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Interpretable Machine Learning in Physics: A Review
Wetzel, Sebastian Johann
Ha, Seungwoong
Iten, Raban
Klopotek, Miriam
Liu, Ziming
Computational Physics
Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning
Machine learning is increasingly transforming various scientific fields, enabled by advancements in computational power and access to large data sets from experiments and simulations. As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to grow in capability, these algorithms will enable many scientific discoveries beyond human capabilities. Since the primary goal of science is to understand the world around us, fully leveraging machine learning in scientific discovery requires models that are interpretable -- allowing experts to comprehend the concepts underlying machine-learned predictions. Successful interpretations increase trust in black-box methods, help reduce errors, allow for the improvement of the underlying models, enhance human-AI collaboration, and ultimately enable fully automated scientific discoveries that remain understandable to human scientists. This review examines the role of interpretability in machine learning applied to physics. We categorize different aspects of interpretability, discuss machine learning models in terms of both interpretability and performance, and explore the philosophical implications of interpretability in scientific inquiry. Additionally, we highlight recent advances in interpretable machine learning across many subfields of physics. By bridging boundaries between disciplines -- each with its own unique insights and challenges -- we aim to establish interpretable machine learning as a core research focus in science.
title Interpretable Machine Learning in Physics: A Review
topic Computational Physics
Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.23616