From Black Box to Boardroom: The Significance of Explainable AI (XAI) in Reducing Algorithmic Risk and Rebuilding Confidence in Digital Payment Systems

Abstract

The wide implementation of advanced Machine Learning (ML) models in digital payment systems, especially for fraud detection and credit risk assessment, has substantially improved operational efficiency and transaction security. The inherent opacity, often referred to as the black box character, of these high-performing algorithms poses considerable and mounting issues related to algorithmic fairness, stakeholder trust, and compliance with regulations. This article analyzes the growing strategic significance of Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) as an important governance tool for mitigating algorithmic risk in financial services. The paper exposes how XAI, informed by Agency Theory and Institutional Theory, is not just a technical requirement but an essential institutional mechanism for ensuring regulatory accountability within frameworks like the EU AI Act, restoring public trust and identifying and alleviating systemic algorithmic bias in credit scoring and fraud risk assessment. A conceptual framework is introduced and it illustrates how XAI; using post-hoc interpretation methods such as SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) and LIME (Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanations)- bridges the knowledge disparity between intricate AI models and various human stakeholders, including customers, fraud analysts, and regulators. This transformation shifts AI from a hypothetical institutional liability to a responsible, auditable, and governable asset within the digital payment ecosystem. The report concluded by describing key areas for forthcoming empirical research on the organizational problems associated with XAI implementation across various regulatory jurisdictions