USC Institute on Ethics & Trust in Computing
The USC Institute on Ethics & Trust in Computing (IETC) addresses an urgent need for academic expertise in guiding the responsible development of AI — not to slow progress, but to grapple with critical questions that technology cannot: questions about justice, judgment, agency, and what we owe each other in a society where machines profoundly influence our way of living. This work begins with philosophy — both through inquiry and as a tool for thinking clearly and acting wisely.
A collaboration between the USC Dornsife School of Philosophy, the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, and interdisciplinary scholars across the university, IETC explores the crossroads of ethics and emerging technology. The institute is designed to shape public discourse, invite partnership with industry, and train students to bridge reflection with execution as we increasingly rely on AI for solving complex problems.
