Internet of Behavior (IoB) and Explainable AI Systems for Influencing IoT Behavior

IoB represents a significant expansion of surveillance capabilities: The paper describes how Internet of Behavior systems combine IoT devices, cloud computing, and AI to track and influence individual behavior at scale—a capability that has grown substantially with modern technology and raises important questions about consent and privacy boundaries.

Explainable AI is positioned as a trust mechanism: The authors argue that integrating Explainable AI (XAI) with IoB systems can provide transparency about how and why systems are influencing user behavior, suggesting that understanding the reasoning behind automated decisions is essential for responsible deployment of behavior-influencing technologies.

Real-world applications show measurable behavioral change: The paper's case study on electricity consumption demonstrated concrete results—a 522.2 kW reduction in power usage and €95.04 in cost savings over 200 hours—illustrating that these systems can effectively modify human behavior, which underscores the need for careful governance of such powerful tools.

The dual-use concern is implicit but critical: While the paper frames IoB applications positively (reducing energy consumption), it acknowledges that governments, organizations, and companies have historically used available technologies "to track, control, and influence" behavior, highlighting the potential for misuse if such systems lack proper oversight and ethical guardrails.

Transparency alone may be insufficient safeguard: Although XAI is presented as enabling "trusted" experiences, the paper doesn't address whether explainability adequately protects individuals from manipulation or whether additional safeguards—such as opt-in requirements or regulatory limits—are necessary for responsible deployment.