Intelligence10 min read· 02 Jun 2026

Explainable Alpha: Reading An AI Model Like A Chart

A field guide to attention maps, feature attributions, and why traders should demand a receipt for every machine-made decision.

SL
S. Laurent
Chief Financial Officer

An AI signal without an explanation is a rumour. If a model cannot show which inputs pushed it toward a decision, no experienced trader should give it capital.

Three receipts you should demand

  • Feature attribution — which inputs contributed, with weights
  • Attention map — which time windows the model actually looked at
  • Counterfactual — what would have changed the signal, and by how much

None of these are exotic. They are the equivalent of a broker showing you the tape after a fill. If the platform cannot produce them, treat the signal as folklore.

// end.of.dispatchsigned · S. Laurent