Petra Abbam: What It’s Really Like Working in AI at the BBC

This week on Behind the Future, we’re joined by Petra Abbam, Principal Responsible AI Manager at the BBC, a role she carved out through curiosity, reinvention, and a willingness to take risks.

From dreaming of being a pilot to studying physics, dropping out, and eventually landing in computer science and French, Petra’s story isn’t linear, and that’s exactly what makes it powerful. After starting in publishing, she joined the BBC, working on orchestras and choirs, before progressing through six completely different roles, each time driven by a desire to learn and grow.

Today, she leads the BBC’s responsible AI efforts, helping the organisation navigate deepfakes, misinformation, and biased datasets. Petra shares why a third of the world being offline matters, what it means to make responsible AI inclusive, and why critical thinking is your best asset in a world where it's getting harder to tell what’s real.

She also opens up about career crossroads, imposter syndrome, and leaping into new roles that stretched her skills - plus advice for young people worried about job security in the age of AI.

Behind the Future is a podcast for the next generation of digital talent, offering weekly interviews, real-world insights and career advice. Subscribe for more conversations like this, and follow us on TikTok and Instagram @aspirationdigital.

Hosts: Becky Simms & Ruhaan Qudratiyaar

Guest: Petra Abbam

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pabbam/

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