Ethics & Privacy - Podcast 10 - Why Humans Justify Fraud & Autocracy

This podcast addresses two very different aspects of institutional evaluation: the formal management of artificial intelligence and the informal realities of university admissions. The first source is a technical publication from NIST detailing a framework to improve AI trustworthiness through specific functions like governing, mapping, measuring, and managing systemic risks. It emphasizes the need for accountability and transparency to prevent technological harms to society and individuals. Conversely, the second source provides a collection of anecdotes highlighting common pitfalls that lead to the rejection of college applicants, such as plagiarism, dishonesty, and unprofessional social media behavior. While the NIST document focuses on standardizing safety and ethics in software, the BuzzFeed article illustrates how personal judgment and character assessments influence human-led selection processes. Together, they demonstrate how organizations use predefined criteria and behavioral observations to mitigate risk and ensure high standards.