Part 4/12:
Melissa’s technical background enabled her to understand how cybercriminals manipulate digital content. Her experience led her to the belief that technology could also be part of the solution. In early 2023, as AI tools capable of creating hyper-realistic, manipulated images and videos flooded the public domain with little regulation, she saw an urgent need to develop protective technology.
She decided to leave her corporate career to found Certifi AI—a startup dedicated to building tools that detect, verify, and counteract AI-driven digital abuse. Her personal story fuels her mission: to protect individuals at risk and to create a digital environment rooted in dignity and consent.