USC introduces $12 million Institute on Ethics & Trust in Computing

USC is establishing the Institute on Ethics & Trust in Computing, where specialists will provide ethical guidance and resources to scholars and students on the creation and utilization of artificial intelligence and other technologies that are now prevalent in business, finance, healthcare, national security, and scientific domains.

The new institute is backed by $12 million from the Lord Foundation of California.

“USC is the hub for innovation, with interdisciplinary capabilities and expertise to propel advancements in computational science that benefit humanity,” USC President Carol Folt stated. “Ethics must always be central, and this vital new institute directs future scientists to contemplate thoroughly the implications of their endeavors. I am thankful to the Lord Foundation for their foresight and support during this crucial period when AI is transforming computing and society.”

“With its remarkable progression, today’s technology is linked with humanity in a novel ‘double helix.’ Therefore, it is essential to comprehend how this interaction can assist in solving the grand challenges of our time and to continuously promote our shared humanity.” — Yannis C. Yortsos, USC Viterbi dean

The institute builds upon Folt’s Frontiers of Computing “moonshot” — an initiative exceeding $1 billion that is the most extensive academic initiative in USC’s history — to fortify USC’s status as a global leader in advanced computing research and education. The university has been a prominent producer of computer science degrees nationally among undergraduate and graduate students combined.

“USC’s computing initiatives have rapidly grown, with 90 new faculty members anticipated by 2030, uniting expertise in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, robotics, and cybersecurity,” remarked Shrikanth Narayanan, Vice President for Presidential Initiatives and USC University Professor, who will supervise the new institute. “Incorporating ethics and trust across the spectrum…
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of computing investigation and education is central to this USC moonshot.”

“To construct ethical computing frameworks, we must incorporate ethical principles into their design. This is a pivotal challenge the institute will tackle.” — Gaurav Sukhatme, head of the USC School of Advanced Computing

Utilizing USC’s distinct location in the heart of Los Angeles and Southern California, along with the growing significance of Silicon Beach — home to USC Information Sciences Institute and the USC Institute for Creative Technologies — this new institution will generate new educational, research, and career prospects for USC alumni through collaborations in L.A.’s tech industries.

Fostering ethics and trust in technology

Co-led by faculty from USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, the institute will encourage enhanced interdisciplinary cooperation.

“The institute will enable USC students across various disciplines … to interact with emerging technologies in ways that enhance public confidence and societal welfare.” — Yan Liu, co-director of the institute and USC Viterbi professor of computer science

“By integrating research outcomes in ethics centered on reliability, safety, and responsible AI development into advanced computing education, the institute will empower USC students across different fields — from engineering and business to law, media, and philosophy — to engage with emerging technologies in ways that foster public trust and societal good,” stated Yan Liu, co-director of the institute and professor of computer science at USC Viterbi.

“A cooperative initiative between the humanities and computer science represents the ideal path forward,” expressed John Hawthorne, co-director of the institute, who also serves as a Provost Professor of Philosophy holding the Linda MacDonald Hilf Chair in Philosophy.

Hawthorne remarked: “AI is increasingly significant in numerous facets of society, including education, hiring processes, probation assessments, medical evaluations, loan decisions, stock trading, and addressing our desire for companionship. This societal transformation poses deep inquiries.”

As governments, industry stakeholders, and academic institutions contend with AI regulation and responsible technology implementation, the new institute will enhance the university’s stature as a thought leader in shaping policies and best practices.

“A cooperative effort between the humanities and computer science is the optimal route forward.” — John Hawthorne, co-director of the institute and Provost Professor of Philosophy

Beyond providing avenues for researchers and students to delve deeper into ethics in computing, the institute will facilitate opportunities for scientists from peer institutions and the public to participate in discussions regarding AI, blockchain, cybersecurity, data science, and medical technology through conferences, webinars, and other events.

A bold vision for what lies ahead

The institute will expand upon and partner with USC’s ongoing initiatives, including the USC + Amazon Center on Secure & Trusted Machine Learning, the USC Center for AI in Society, and the USC Center for Generative AI and Society.

“In our daily experiences, we understand that trust must be cultivated. AI is no different. This institute addresses some of the most pressing inquiries of our era: not simply what we can create with AI, but what we ought to, and the manner in which we adopt it ethically and fairly.” — Moh El-Naggar, USC Dornsife interim dean

Functioning within the broader Frontiers of Computing moonshot and in conjunction with the USC School of Advanced Computing, the new institute marks a significant move towards ensuring that computing technologies are developed responsibly.

With USC’s esteemed proficiency in AI, computing, and interdisciplinary collaboration, the institute is set to influence how industries and policymakers approach digital trust, security, and ethical AI development in the forthcoming future.