# Explainable Computational Creativity

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2205.05682 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2205.05682/

## Key facts

- Cited by 8 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 2 of its 36 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 11 May 2022.

## Builds on (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI): Concepts, Taxonomies, Opportunities and Challenges toward Responsible AI](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1910.10045/) (2019)
- [In a Silent Way: Communication Between AI and Improvising Musicians Beyond Sound](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1902.06442/) (2019)

## Built on by (most cited first, 8 of 8)

- [3DALL-E: Integrating Text-to-Image AI in 3D Design Workflows](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2210.11603/) (2022)
- [Beyond Prompts: Exploring the Design Space of Mixed-Initiative Co-Creativity Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.07465/) (2023)
- [Exploring XAI for the Arts: Explaining Latent Space in Generative Music](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2308.05496/) (2023)
- [Stylebreeder: Exploring and Democratizing Artistic Styles through Text-to-Image Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2406.14599/) (2024)
- [Challenges in creative generative models for music: a divergence maximization perspective](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2211.08856/) (2022)
- [Grasping AI: experiential exercises for designers](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.01282/) (2023)
- [Picturing Ambiguity: A Visual Twist on the Winograd Schema Challenge](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.16277/) (2024)
- [GRAPHIC--Guidelines for Reviewing Algorithmic Practices in Human-centred Design and Interaction for Creativity](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2511.17443/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Human collaboration with systems within the Computational Creativity (CC) field is often restricted to shallow interactions, where the creative processes, of systems and humans alike, are carried out in isolation, without any (or little) intervention from the user, and without any discussion about how the unfolding decisions are taking place. Fruitful co-creation requires a sustained ongoing interaction that can include discussions of ideas, comparisons to previous/other works, incremental improvements and revisions, etc. For these interactions, communication is an intrinsic factor. This means giving a voice to CC systems and enabling two-way communication channels between them and their users so that they can: explain their processes and decisions, support their ideas so that these are given serious consideration by their creative collaborators, and learn from these discussions to further improve their creative processes. For this, we propose a set of design principles for CC systems that aim at supporting greater co-creation and collaboration with their human collaborators.