Applying Transmeta Design to Explainable, Usable, and Ethical AI: A Methodological Proposal for Human-Centred Engineering

As AI systems increasingly permeate domains where human understanding, trust, and accountability are paramount, the demand for explainable and ethically aligned user interfaces has become urgent. In this paper, we propose applying the Transmeta Design framework—originally developed to enhance usability through transparency and meta-communication in Web services—to the development of AI-driven interactive systems. We argue that Transmeta Design provides a promising methodological basis for engineering explainable AI, user-centred decision support systems, and ethically coherent interfaces. By leveraging its dual dimensions of transparency and meta-communication, we articulate a methodology that aligns with the goals of human-centred AI. We demonstrate its application with two case studies: an AI-assisted clinical decision support system and an intelligent financial planning assistant.