In a recent interview, Dr. Rebecca Portnoff, vice president of data science at Thorn, discussed her mission to leverage AI in protecting children from sexual abuse. With a PhD from UC Berkeley, she has dedicated eight years to developing machine learning solutions aimed at identifying victims and preventing abuse. Dr. Portnoff highlighted the collaborative Safety by Design initiative to mitigate generative AI misuse. Despite challenges in a male-dominated field, she urges women to embrace their potential and stresses the importance of ethical AI development. Her insights underscore the urgent need for robust legislation against AI misuse.