Could you please introduce yourself?
Hello, I am Tessel van Oirsouw. I am 26 years old, I graduated in 2022, and I did the philosophy and politics tracks.
What did you do in your fifth semester?
Initially, I was supposed to go on an exchange to Tokyo, but I was unable to go because of the COVID pandemic and ended up doing an internship at the Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR). The WRR is an advisory scientific council to the Dutch government; they write policy briefs on topics that they expect to have significant long-term social and political consequences. I wanted to do something with artificial intelligence, and my sister told me that the WRR was working on a project on AI. I reached out to Haroon Sheikh, who was leading the project and would also be teaching a PPE course the following semester (which I was not aware of at the time of reaching out). When I saw Haroon’s profile at the time, I thought that this was exactly what I find interesting - the intersection of technology and geopolitics. This internship was my first real experience with AI (although I had some background knowledge about algorithms through my bachelor’s degree in Media and Information at the UvA) and profoundly influenced my later path. Sometimes I wonder whether I would have decided to study AI if I had gone to Tokyo, or if I would have chosen a different direction.
What did you do after PPE?
After graduating from PPE, I began a master’s in AI Ethics and Society at the University of Cambridge. At the time, AI ethics was still considered a niche subject, and tools like ChatGPT hadn’t yet been released. But I had a strong sense that AI would become increasingly important, and I wanted to be at the forefront of that conversation.
During my first year in the UK, I worked as a Senior Manager in Data Ethics at the Open University to help finance my studies. In that role, I developed a governance plan and trained staff on the responsible handling of sensitive student data. After my first year in the UK, I decided to explore different organizational environments to get a sense of where I wanted to work in the future. This led me to Brussels for a Bluebook internship at the European Commission, where I worked on the AI Act and the Chips Act. Later, I moved to Boston as a visiting fellow at Harvard to do research and work on my dissertation. Balancing coursework, work, and new environments could definitely be demanding, especially when I was in Brussels trying to make new friends and working late hours at the Commission. But I work best if I create some form of (time) pressure for myself - by taking more on, I essentially force myself to be more efficient and get things done.
Following my master’s, I co-founded EthicAI with some fellow students from Cambridge. There were a couple of people from my master’s who were already professionals. One of them was an entrepreneur who had the idea for the company, and then she asked me whether I wanted to be part of the project. The company advises organizations on the ethical use of AI and its broader societal implications. I primarily worked on the governance and policy side of things, advising companies on establishing guidelines for the use of AI and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations. My time at the Commission was beneficial because it made me more familiar with the AI Act and the initiatives surrounding it. My work was remote, and I lived in Amsterdam, whilst sometimes travelling to clients’ offices.
Is there any AI fun fact or misconception that you are annoyed by?
One of the main points I try to emphasize is that technologies are not just technical inventions, but things that are shaped by and materialize through social, political, and economic choices. History shows us that technologies alone do not transform society; it is the policies, infrastructures, and choices around them that shape their impact. For example, people often say the printing press made societies literate. In reality, literacy only became widespread once governments introduced free education, because books remained inaccessible to most people until then. Similarly, the combustion engine did not transform daily life on its own. It required highways, fuel stations, driver’s licenses, and public infrastructure before cars could become central to society.
The same is true for AI. How it develops depends on the decisions we make as societies. I push back against narratives that portray AI as purely technical or its trajectory as inevitable. That assumption has led us astray before, such as when social media was left largely unregulated. Today, some companies developing AI have resources exceeding those of entire nations, but that does not mean we must accept a “race to the bottom.” Regulation, policy, and collective choices still matter and they will determine the role AI plays in our future.
What advice would you give to yourself when you were in PPE?
Especially in a career sense, I try to remind myself of a couple of Dutch sayings: “de brutalen hebben de halve wereld” (roughly, fortune favors the brave) and “nee heb je, ja kan je krijgen” (similar to nothing ventured, nothing gained). They encourage me to take chances, to ask for help, and not to tell myself “no”.
That mindset has shaped a lot of my choices. I’ve applied to jobs I wasn’t sure I was qualified for, reached out to people I admired and asked them questions, and sometimes just tried things that felt slightly out of reach. I’ve gotten plenty of rejections along the way, especially from job applications or messages that never got a reply. But I see those “nos” as proof that I’m pushing beyond my comfort zone. And it only takes a few “yesses” to make all the difference.
I once read a book called The Third Door, which compares careers to getting into a nightclub. There’s the main entrance for most people, the VIP entrance for those already successful, and then the “third door”: finding unconventional ways in, like through the kitchen or over the fence. I’ve always liked that image. Especially since I’m early in my career, I feel like I have to be willing to put myself out there and try any possible door.
What is your best memory of PPE?
Some of my favorite memories are from being on the fourth floor and the friends I made at PPE. There was always a sense of being in it together, whether it was to study, just hang out, or collectively despair about an upcoming exam. I remember one night just before COVID hit, when we had an R statistics test scheduled. A few of us were still on the fourth floor late into the evening, frantically preparing. Then an announcement came through that the university would close for the rest of the week, which meant the exam was cancelled. The relief was enormous - we cheered, celebrated with the few people still around, and headed to a bar together. Looking back, we were naive about what was to come, but that moment for me really captured how much it felt like we were going through PPE as a shared experience.
How did the network of PPE contribute to your personal or professional growth?
One of the best parts of PPE is the people you meet. There are so many impressive classmates doing exciting work and internships, and that creates an international environment where you learn from and help each other out. For example, my friend Jakob had already done the Bluebook traineeship before I even knew it existed, and he guided me through what it was and how to apply. That’s just one example of how the PPE community becomes an informal international network full of people who inspire you and who can help you take the next step.
Is there something exciting that you would like to share about your life outside of your work?
I am really excited to be in Amsterdam again! I was travelling around quite a lot, and now I am finally grounded again, living with my boyfriend and just being happy.
What are your plans for the future?
I’m currently exploring my next step and reaching out to people and organizations to see what opportunities might fit. I’d love to work at the intersection of geopolitics and technology, but more broadly, I want to keep trying out different things. I see my career as an opportunity to experience living in different countries, meeting lots of new people, and learning from new environments. That sense of exploration is the general direction I want to follow.