We spoke with Dr Anna Zeiter about the intersection of technology and the law alongside the importance of ethically wielding artificial intelligence.
For the vice president of privacy, AI and data responsibility and the chief privacy officer at eBay, Dr Anna Zeiter, the path into a STEM career was anything but straightforward. Rather it was a journey motivated by a fascination with the merging of fundamental rights, technology and ethics.
“My legal background, coupled with my advanced degrees, including a PhD and an LLM in law, science and technology from Stanford Law School, gave me a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities presented by emerging technologies,” she told SiliconRepublic.com.
“I became increasingly interested in how data and AI were transforming businesses and societies and the critical need for responsible governance and ethical frameworks.”
For Zeiter, “responsible AI is not just a buzzword, it is a fundamental imperative.” She explained that, as AI continues to reshape and remake the world, fostering trust and accountability is essential to harnessing its full potential.
“In sectors ranging from healthcare to autonomous vehicles, reliable and responsible AI systems are critical to delivering safe outcomes and building public confidence” and it is her diverse background that has given her the confidence to operate so efficiently, in a rapidly transforming space.
“It’s allowed me to approach challenges from multiple perspectives and to bridge the gap between different disciplines. Cross-collaboration is essential in the AI space, as it requires expertise from a wide range of fields, including computer science, ethics, law, and business,” she said.
“I’m particularly excited about my current role as chief privacy officer and vice president for privacy, AI and data responsibility, where I’m helping to shape eBay’s approach to responsible AI, ensuring that we are leveraging this powerful technology in a way that is compliant, fair, transparent and accountable.”
Modern education
While traditional skills in areas such as maths, statistics, law ethics and computer science will always be important and are in fact essential for understanding the fundamentals of AI, she noted it is equally as important to stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in the field.
This could be in deep learning, generative AI or responsible AI frameworks, as continuous learning and adaptation are key to success in any rapidly evolving field.
Having previously earned the title Mrs European Privacy for becoming specialised in an area that the majority of people had little to no experience in, Zeiter is a believer in working to find the aspects of your industry and career that give you the most joy and excitement.
“Identify a problem you’re genuinely passionate about solving and immerse yourself in that area. Become an expert, stay curious and don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo. Build a strong network of mentors and peers who can support you on your journey. Ultimately, follow your passion and go where the good energy is.”
For anyone looking to the horizon in terms of how they might upskill with the future of the STEM sector in mind, Zeiter explained the theme of responsible AI is highly relevant as we continue to explore areas such as agentic e-commerce.
“With AI agents interacting, the absence of a human in the loop presents unique challenges. There is a need in prioritising transparency and control mechanisms. This includes robust monitoring to detect unintended biases or outcomes and clear pathways for human intervention when necessary.”
Overall, she emphasised that artificial intelligence is not just about the technology, it is also about the people whose role it is to wield it and the growing responsibility we all have to ensure that we are ethical in our use of it. “We need to ensure that AI is used to empower individuals, create opportunities and improve lives.”
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