AI Governance That People Will Actually Follow, with Erica Shoemate

AI Governance That People Will Actually Follow, with Erica Shoemate

From A Beginner's Guide to AI by Dietmar Fischer

April 30, 2026 · 54 min · Season 14 · Episode 17

About this episode

Dietmar Fischer discusses AI governance and ethical tech development with Erica Shoemate, focusing on how to ensure AI serves vulnerable populations.

Why AI safety is the floor, not the ceiling, and how to pivot with power In this episode of Beginner’s Guide to AI, Dietmar Fischer talks with AI policy and trust & safety leader Erica Shoemate about designing and protecting systems that center around people. This is not the usual Terminator question. It is the practical, urgent one: how do we ensure AI serves the most vulnerable, what does true operational security look like, and why is no technology ever truly neutral. 🌍🛰️ Erica also shares the strategic backbone of her work, including insights from her time across the FBI, the US intelligence community, and Big Tech. The conversation moves from hard data to hard ethics: ageism and bias in AI imagery, the dangers of echo chambers, and how her "Pivot Playbook" helps individuals navigate technological disruption and career changes without panic. If you are interested in AI governance, ethical tech development, and the future of inclusive AI, this episode gives you a rare blend of practical safety thinking and rigorous strategic planning. 📧💌📧 Tune in to get my thoughts and all episodes, don't forget to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠subscribe to our…

People in this episode

Host: Dietmar Fischer

Guest: Erica Shoemate

Topics covered

  • AI governance
  • ethical tech development
  • AI safety
  • operational security
  • inclusive AI
  • technological disruption
  • career changes

Keywords

  • AI governance
  • ethical technology
  • safety
  • bias in AI
  • operational security
  • Pivot Playbook
  • technological disruption

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: FBI, US intelligence community, Big Tech

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