What term describes a system whose internal mechanisms are not transparent, making it difficult to understand how inputs are transformed into outputs?

The term that describes a system whose internal mechanisms are not transparent, making it challenging to understand how inputs are transformed into outputs, is "black box." In the context of cognitive project management and AI systems, a black box model operates in a way that, while we can observe the inputs and the resulting outputs, the processes happening internally remain hidden or obfuscated. This lack of transparency can present challenges in evaluating, debugging, and improving the system, as stakeholders may be unable to ascertain how decisions are made or results are derived.

Understanding the implications of a black box system is critical, especially in AI applications where accountability and interpretability are essential for trust and compliance. As the complexity of AI models increases, recognizing that they function as black boxes helps project managers and developers address potential ethical and operational issues.