AI engineering glossary · AI ethics law product
What is proxy variable?
Proxy variable (also called proxy feature): An input feature that is not itself sensitive but is strongly correlated with a protected attribute, so it lets a model discriminate indirectly. Removing the protected column is therefore not enough to make a model fair.
Proxy variable: an example
A pin code or surname can act as a proxy for community or religion, so a lender's model may effectively discriminate on those grounds without ever seeing them.
Related terms
More AI ethics law product terms
- Pseudonymization
- Purpose limitation
- Re-identification
- Representation bias
- Responsible AI
- Retention rate
- Right of access
- Right to erasure
Where you learn it
Proxy variable is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.