Configuring an explanatory model to output consistent explanations across inputs

A method comprising:

• receiving, by one or more processors, input datasets that each include a respective set of variable values for a same set of variables, wherein the input datasets have different values for a particular variable in the set of variables;
• generating, by the one or more processors, encoded input datasets by performing one-hot encoding with respect to the different values of the particular variable;
• generating, by the one or more processors, encoded background data based on how many different values of the particular variable are present in the input datasets;
• generating, by the one or more processors, synthetic data based on the encoded input datasets and the encoded background data, wherein the synthetic data includes multiple permutations of the encoded input datasets and the encoded background data;
• providing, by the one or more processors, the synthetic data as input to a target model to receive outputs from the target model;
• and
• configuring, by the one or more processors, an explanatory model based on the synthetic data and the outputs from the target model, the explanatory model being configured to generate scores indicating how a selected set of values for the set of variables influences an output from the target model.

A system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more memories includes instructions that are executable by the one or more processors for causing the one or more processors to:
• receive input datasets that each include a respective set of variable values for a same set of variables, wherein the input datasets have different values for a particular variable in the set of variables;
• generate encoded input datasets by performing one-hot encoding with respect to the different values of the particular variable;
• generate encoded background data based on how many different values of the particular variable are present in the input datasets;
• generate synthetic data based on the encoded input datasets and the encoded background data, wherein the synthetic data includes multiple permutations of the encoded input datasets and the encoded background data;
• provide the synthetic data as input to a target model to receive outputs from the target model;
• and
• configure an explanatory model based on the synthetic data and the outputs from the target model, the explanatory model being configured to generate scores indicating how a selected set of values for the set of variables influences an output from the target model.