Method and device for ascertaining an explanation map

A method for ascertaining an explanation map of an image, the method comprising:

• highlighting all those pixels of the image which are significant for a classification of the image ascertained using a deep neural network, the explanation map being selected in such a way that the explanation map selects a smallest possible subset of the pixels of the image as relevant, and the explanation map leads to the same classification result as the image as when the explanation map is supplied to the deep neural network for classification, the explanation map being selected in such a way that an activation caused by the explanation map does not exceed an activation caused by the image in feature maps of the deep neural network.

A non-transitory machine-readable memory medium on which is stored a computer program for ascertaining an explanation map of an image, the computer program, when executed by a computer, causing the computer to perform the following:

• highlighting all those pixels of the image which are significant for a classification of the image ascertained using a deep neural network, the explanation map being selected in such a way that the explanation map selects a smallest possible subset of the pixels of the image as relevant, and the explanation map leads to the same classification result as the image as when the explanation map is supplied to the deep neural network for classification, the explanation map being selected in such a way that an activation caused by the explanation map does not exceed an activation caused by the image in feature maps of the deep neural network.

A machine classification system configured to ascertain an explanation map of an image, the system configured to:

• highlight all those pixels of the image which are significant for a classification of the image ascertained using a deep neural network, the explanation map being selected in such a way that the explanation map selects a smallest possible subset of the pixels of the image as relevant, and the explanation map leads to the same classification result as the image as when the explanation map is supplied to the deep neural network for classification, the explanation map being selected in such a way that an activation caused by the explanation map does not exceed an activation caused by the image in feature maps of the deep neural network.