Guardians of AI: Maryam Meseha of Pierson Ferdinand On How AI Leaders Are Keeping AI Safe, Ethical, Responsible, and True
…AI systems must be transparent and explainable, meaning that their decision-making processes are clear and accessible. Transparency fosters accountability and builds trust between developers, businesses, and the public. It also enables stakeholders to understand the rationale behind AI-driven decisions, which is essential for correcting errors and mitigating risks…
As AI technology rapidly advances, ensuring its responsible development and deployment has become more critical than ever. How are today’s AI leaders addressing safety, fairness, and accountability in AI systems? What practices are they implementing to maintain transparency and align AI with human values? To address these questions, we had the pleasure of interviewing Maryam Meseha. Maryam Meseha is the Founding Partner and Co-Chair of Privacy & Data Security at Pierson Ferdinand LLP, a tech-enabled law firm, and an experienced data privacy and cybersecurity attorney. She counsels businesses of all sizes on navigating regulatory frameworks, implementing AI governance, and ensuring data protection and ethical compliance.
Maryam has advised companies across industries: including technology, finance, real estate, healthcare, retail, and hospitality, on developing and implementing enterprise-wide data privacy and security systems. She also acts as data breach counsel, guiding organizations through response investigations and compliance with legal and contractual obligations.
In addition to her cybersecurity expertise, Maryam serves as outside general counsel for small and midsize companies, advising on corporate governance, employment, and operational issues. She is admitted to practice law in New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, and various federal courts
Recognized for her leadership and expertise, Maryam was named one of NC Lawyers Weekly’s 50 Most Influential Women. She is an active leader in the community, serving as a member of CHIEF and participating in Leadership North Carolina. She has also presented her insights at prominent conferences, including NCTech, CAHEC, and ODR Cyberweek.
Thank you so much for your time! I know that you are a very busy person. Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you got started?
My journey into law and technology stems from a deep fascination with how digital innovation reshapes industries. Early in my career, I recognized the increasing complexity of data privacy and cybersecurity, and I became determined to help businesses navigate these evolving landscapes. However, as a woman in male-dominated fields, I faced challenges that pushed me to not only excel but also advocate for diversity and inclusion.
As one of the founding partners of Pierson Ferdinand LLP, our mission was to create a firm where legal professionals — especially women — can thrive while balancing their personal lives. Inclusivity is more than a principle for me; it’s a mission inspired by my daughters, who remind me daily of the importance of building pathways for the next generation. At Pierson Ferdinand, we aim to lead by example, showing that success in law and technology can be equitable, accessible, and empowering.
None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful for, who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
My husband has been my single greatest cheerleader and always encourages me to think big. As a younger attorney, I struggled with imposter syndrome and it was difficult to find my footing, particularly in 2 very male-centric spaces: the law and technology. Gradually, I learned the importance of deep preparation and confidence. I was also blessed to be surrounded by personal and professional mentors that expressed the importance of trusting in one’s expertise. These lessons have proved invaluable, allowing me to turn what some may view as disadvantages into defining moments.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
- Resilience: Navigating law and technology is exciting in that the technology and legal landscape around both are fast-paced and ever changing. Growing and adapting to these realities have been critical.
- Empathy: Being a member of a firm focused on supporting families has required understanding the real-life challenges of balancing career and personal commitments. This empathy informs every policy we create at Pierson Ferdinand, my work and my own personal decisions.
- Integrity: In AI cybersecurity and data privacy, ethical considerations are non-negotiable. I’ve stood firm on decisions, even when it meant forgoing short-term gains, to ensure long-term trust and accountability.
Thank you for all that. Let’s now turn to the main focus of our discussion about how AI leaders are keeping AI safe and responsible. To begin, can you list three things that most excite you about the current state of the AI industry?
1. Transformative Impact Across Industries:
AI holds the potential to revolutionize numerous sectors by addressing critical challenges and optimizing operations. In healthcare, it enhances diagnostics, personalizes treatments, and boosts efficiency. In real estate, AI facilitates property management and investment strategies through data-driven insights. Financial institutions use AI to manage risks, detect fraud, and improve customer experiences, driving scalability and competitiveness. Education benefits from AI by empowering personalized learning, optimizing operations, and improving student outcomes.
2. Ethical Governance and Frameworks:
As AI technology evolves, so does the global conversation surrounding its ethical implications. I’m particularly excited by the growing emphasis on governance and ethical considerations in AI development. Industry leaders, policymakers, and attorneys are working together to establish frameworks that prioritize safety, fairness, and transparency. This shift is crucial to ensuring AI systems are used responsibly and ethically, fostering public trust and reducing the risk of unintended consequences.
3. Increased Representation and Diversity:
Another development that excites me is the increasing involvement of historically underrepresented groups, particularly women and minorities, in AI development. This diverse representation is crucial for creating more equitable AI systems that reflect and serve the needs of all communities. The inclusion of multiple perspectives is already contributing to the development of more inclusive and socially responsible AI technologies, which will benefit the industry and the wider society.
Conversely, can you tell us three things that most concern you about the industry? What must be done to alleviate those concerns?
Three key concerns about the AI industry are bias in AI systems, the lack of comprehensive regulation, and the prioritization of speed over safety and ethics.
There is bias within AI Systems. AI systems are only as good as the data they are trained on, and when that data is incomplete, unbalanced, or reflective of existing societal biases, the outcomes can perpetuate inequality or harm marginalized groups. This is particularly concerning in fields like healthcare, finance, and education, where biased algorithms can lead to inequitable access to resources, unfair loan decisions, or disparities in learning opportunities. Addressing this requires a concerted effort to diversify datasets, implement rigorous auditing processes, and ensure diverse teams are involved in AI development.
The rapid pace of AI innovation has outstripped the creation of comprehensive regulations, leaving gaps in accountability and oversight. This lack of clear governance creates vulnerabilities, allowing misuse of AI technologies, from privacy breaches to unethical surveillance practices. Without industry-wide standards, businesses risk damaging public trust and facing significant legal or reputational challenges. Stronger regulatory frameworks are necessary to ensure responsible innovation that aligns with societal values.
In the race to capitalize on AI’s potential, some companies prioritize speed and profitability over safety and ethical considerations. This can lead to the premature deployment of systems that are under-tested or inadequately secured, creating risks for users and businesses alike. From cybersecurity vulnerabilities to unintended consequences in automated decision-making, these shortcuts can have long-term repercussions. It is vital for organizations to adopt a balanced approach, investing in thorough testing, risk assessments, and ethical evaluations before deploying AI solutions.
As a CEO leading an AI-driven organization, how do you embed ethical principles into your company’s overall vision and long-term strategy? What specific executive-level decisions have you made to ensure your company stays ahead in developing safe, transparent, and responsible AI technologies?
At Pierson Ferdinand, I serve as the Co-Chair of Privacy & Data Security, where I lead efforts to embed ethical considerations into every aspect of AI governance for our clients. This includes conducting thorough risk assessments, implementing robust accountability measures, and guiding our clients to make informed decisions that align with their long-term goals and values.
Have you ever faced a challenging ethical dilemma related to AI development or deployment? How did you navigate the situation while balancing business goals and ethical responsibility?
There is an undeniable tension between innovation and governance. Despite clients’ best intentions, the need for data to train models, for instance, may be expansive and not necessarily in line with data minimization principles. I help the client identify what is necessary to have, from a business perspective, against the risks of collecting beyond what is necessary, while tailoring their considerations to their compliance and ethical obligations carefully.
Despite huge advances, AIs still confidently hallucinate, giving incorrect answers. In addition, AIs will produce incorrect results if they are trained on untrue or biased information. What can be done to ensure that AI produces accurate and transparent results?
Ensuring AI safety requires a comprehensive, proactive approach to governance. This starts with rigorous testing protocols that thoroughly assess the performance, security, and ethical implications of AI systems before deployment and throughout the system’s usage. Transparency in operations is equally critical — AI systems must be able to provide a clear rationale for their decisions, ensuring accountability at every stage. Furthermore, public accountability is essential to build trust, not only in AI technologies themselves but also in the entities that deploy them. The key to achieving AI safety also lies in collaboration. Industry leaders, policymakers, and academics must work together to create well-informed governance frameworks, anticipating potential risks and challenges before they become issues. This collaborative effort can help ensure that AI remains aligned with societal values and ethical standards, offering greater safety for businesses and their customers.
To ensure AI produces accurate and transparent results, several steps must be taken. First and foremost is the importance of maintaining proper data hygiene. Clean, unbiased, and representative data is the foundation of any accurate AI model, as the quality of the data directly impacts the quality of the results. Independent audits are also essential — third-party assessments help identify issues that internal teams might miss, ensuring that AI systems remain accurate and trustworthy. Equally important is the development of explainable AI systems. These systems must be capable of providing clear, understandable explanations for their decisions, which fosters accountability and allows stakeholders to trust the outcomes. Finally, diversifying AI development teams is crucial. With a broader range of perspectives, AI systems are more likely to be designed in a way that reflects a wide array of human experiences, reducing the risk of biased or flawed outputs and ensuring greater fairness in results.
Here is the primary question of our discussion. Based on your experience and success, what are your “Five Things Needed to Keep AI Safe, Ethical, Responsible, and True”? Please share a story or an example for each.
- Building inclusive designs with diverse teams brings a range of viewpoints, reducing the risk of biases and ensuring AI solutions meet the needs of a wide spectrum of users. This approach also ensures that AI systems are better equipped to serve a global, multifaceted population.
- Clear, ethical and comprehensive policies are essential to prioritize safety over speed, ensuring that AI systems are developed and deployed in a manner that upholds societal values and ethical norms. These standards should emphasize not just compliance but proactive measures to avoid potential harms.
- Before AI systems are deployed at scale, they must undergo robust and rigorous implementation and testing. This process ensures that systems perform as expected under various conditions and that vulnerabilities or biases are identified and addressed early. Robust testing should also involve simulated real-world scenarios to evaluate how AI responds to complex and unpredictable environments.
- AI systems must evolve responsibly. Ongoing monitoring allows businesses to assess their impact and address any unintended consequences before they grow into significant issues. This should involve both technical evaluations and ethical assessments to ensure systems remain aligned with their intended purpose and societal standards.
- AI systems must be transparent and explainable, meaning that their decision-making processes are clear and accessible. Transparency fosters accountability and builds trust between developers, businesses, and the public. It also enables stakeholders to understand the rationale behind AI-driven decisions, which is essential for correcting errors and mitigating risks.
Looking ahead, what changes do you hope to see in industry-wide AI governance over the next decade?
I envision a future where AI governance is structured around comprehensive, adaptable frameworks that balance the need for innovation with strong ethical considerations. These frameworks must prioritize inclusivity, ensuring diverse perspectives are integrated into the development process, and transparency, providing clear insights into how AI systems operate and make decisions. Moreover, accountability should be a cornerstone of governance, with clear guidelines in place to ensure that businesses remain responsible for the outcomes of their AI systems. Through this balanced approach, AI can continue to drive progress while maintaining the trust of society and regulators.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge for AI over the next decade, and how should the industry prepare?
The biggest challenge for AI over the next decade will be aligning the rapid pace of technological advancement with the need for strong ethical frameworks. As AI continues to evolve at an exponential rate, industries and regulators must stay ahead by establishing policies that not only facilitate innovation but also ensure the ethical deployment of these technologies. This will require significant investment in diverse talent to bring varied perspectives into AI development, as well as a commitment to transparency to build and maintain public trust. Balancing progress with ethics will be crucial in ensuring AI’s long-term success and acceptance in society.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most good to the most people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
If I could inspire a movement, it would center on empowering women to excel in tech by equipping them with the resources and support needed to thrive. Despite significant progress, women still encounter distinct barriers to entering and advancing in the technology sector. It is essential to offer tailored resources, such as access to specialized technical training, leadership development programs, and robust professional networks that facilitate career growth. Equally important is fostering an organizational culture that embraces diversity, champions equitable opportunities for advancement, and actively promotes inclusivity. By equipping women with the necessary tools and opportunities to succeed, we can cultivate a more innovative, dynamic, and inclusive tech industry, ultimately benefiting businesses, communities, and society as a whole.
How can readers follow your work online?
Readers can connect with me on LinkedIn where I share a network of leaders in law and technology. I am always eager to engage in conversations about advancing the fields of AI governance, cybersecurity, and data privacy, and I look forward to connecting with those who share an interest in these critical areas.
Guardians of AI: Maryam Meseha of Pierson Ferdinand On How AI Leaders Are Keeping AI Safe, Ethical… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.