Sarah Spitz
Sarah Spitz has been Head of Events and Knowledge Transfer at the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) since 2022. She is responsible for planning, coordination and implementation of research and transfer projects with a particular focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and the transfer of scientific findings into practice. In her work, she is committed to ensuring that technological innovations are used in a social context to promote inclusion and equal opportunities, and is particularly committed to diversity in the tech sector.
She is currently coordinating the Human in the Loop? research project, which is investigating the interaction between humans and machines in automated processes. Previously, she led the Women* in the Tech project, which analysed intersectional issues in the area of structural discrimination and equality. She was also responsible for the Artificial intelligence, explained in human terms project, in which the AI Compass card game was developed to communicate the use of AI systems in society in an understandable way.
Education and professional career
Sarah Spitz studied Interdisciplinary Latin American Studies at the Freie Universität Berlin, specialising in Gender Studies and Human Rights. Prior to this, she completed a Bachelor’s degree in Hispanic Studies as well as Political and Social Sciences at the Ruhr University Bochum. Before joining the HIIG, she worked for the Goethe-Institut in Mexico City and Berlin.
AI · Politics & lawHuman in the Loop?
The project investigates how active human involvement can make a difference in automated decision-making processes.
Science engagement · Society & cultureWomen* in Tech
The project develops intersectional questions on equality. With our focus on building networks for and by women*, we aim to support cultural change in...
AI · Science engagementArtificial intelligence, explained in human terms
This project uses an interdisciplinary approach to explain models for artificial intelligence (AI) to a broad civil society, to make it explainable, interpretable and...
Working paper (5)
Spitz, S., Züger, T. & Mosene, K. (2024). Women in the Tech-Sector in Mauritania. Position Paper for the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue in Mauritania. Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10401385 Publication details
Spitz, S., Züger, T. & Mosene, K. (2024). Les femmes dans le secteur de la technologie en Mauritanie. Document de synthèse pour le dialogue multipartite en Mauritanie. Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10610530 Publication details
Spitz, S., Züger, T. & Mosene, K. (2023). A Gender Perspective on Equality and Equity in the Tech-Sector in Cambodia. Position Paper for the Ideathon in Cambodia. Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10571597 Publication details
Spitz, S., Vilchez, P., Züger, T., & Mosene, K. (2023). Una Perspectiva de Género en el Sector Tecnológico en Ecuador: Documento Impulsador. Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10210735 Publication details
Spitz, S., Vilchez, P., Züger, T. & Mosene, K. (2023). Gender Perspective on Technology in Ecuador: Position Paper. Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10210679 Publication details
Other publications (8)
Kontareva, A., Bohn, S., & Spitz, S. (2026). Fairness as strategy. Guidelines for building fair platform companies in Europe. HIIG Impact Publication Series. Publication details
Kettemann, M. C., Mosene, K., Stenzel, M., Mahlow, P., Pothmann, D. & Spitz, S. (2025). Strengthening Trust. Code of Conduct on Human-Machine Decision-Making in Content Moderation. HIIG Impact Publication Series. Publication details
Spitz, S., Züger, T., Walet Mohamed Issa, F. A., Abdoulwahab, M., & Triebsees, A. (2024). Exploring the challenges of women* in Mauritania’s digital landscape, Podcast: Exploring Digital Spheres. Publication details
Mosene, K., Bollmann, H. S., Spitz, S., & Triebsees, A. (2024). Spezialfolge: Schule neu denken – mit dem Werkzeugkasten “Making sense of the future”, Podcast Exploring Digital Spheres. Publication details
Spitz, S., Züger, T. & Mosene, K. (2023). A Gender Perspective on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Tech-Sector. Position Paper for the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue in Mexico. Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society. Publication details
Efferenn, F., Spitz, S., & Pothmann, D. (2023). Der KI-Kompass: Ein Kartenspiel zum Einsatz von Künstlicher Intelligenz in der Schule. bildung+ science, 14-15. Publication details
Efferenn, F., Spitz, S., & Pothmann, D. (2023). KI-Kompass: Dem Hype auf der Spur. RU Heute, 54-55. Publication details
Lectures and presentations (8)
Dialogue on the Code of Conduct for Content Moderation
From Practice to Principle: Developing a Code of Conduct for (Semi-)Automated Content Moderation
Digital Transformation for Regional Integration: Dialogue on Innovation, Data Policy and Governance
Introducing the ThinkLab: A modular blueprint for deconstructing AI from an intersectional feminist perspective
Digital Governance and AI & Work: Dialogue with the Shanghai Municipal Decision-Advisory Committee Office
Wissenschaftliches Escape Game: Mensch, Maschine! Wie entscheiden wir, wer entscheidet? | republica
Bias und Generative KI – Blueprint für ein konstruktives Lernprogramm
Presentation at Ministerio de Agricultura Ecuador
Moderation of workshops and panels (12)
Escape Game „Mensch oder Maschine?”
Workshop on Micro-Credentials about Data
Workshop on Micro-Credentials about Artificial Intelligence
Moderation Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue: Women in the tech sector in Mauritania
Moderation Inspirational Talk Cambodia: Women* who inspire in technology
Ideathon on Gender Equality and Equity in the Tech-Sector
MSD Ecuador Moderation
Moderation Inspirational Talk Ecuador
Moderation Inspirational Talk Mexico
Moderation MSD Mexiko
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Artificial intelligence and sustainability
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Digital entrepreneurship for climate
Organisation of events (90)
Long Night of the Sciences
The Digital Services Act as a tool for tackling gender-based digital violence
Under pressure: The DSA as source of transatlantic tensions
Entdecke, wie personalisierte Werbung funktioniert
Spotlight: Lost in our chat history?
Digitaler Salon: How deep is your fake?
Automated content moderation – Power, law, and the role of human decisions
Humans & machines in (dis)harmony? – A walk through content moderation
Digitaler Salon: Watt für’n Prompt
Digitaler Salon: Im Tal der Ahnungslosen
Digitaler Salon: Paywall oder Payback
Digitaler Salon: There’s no app for that!
Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften 2025
Digitaler Salon: Wissen für alle!?
Konzeption Runde 3 Code of Conduct Prozessierung, Projekt Human in the Loop
Digitaler Salon: Rausreguliert?
Workshop: Code of Conduct on Automation
Digitaler Salon: High-Tech und Hands-On
Girls’ Day at HIIG: Science in Girls’ Hands
Codes of Conduct Expert*innenrunde: Human in the Loop
Digitaler Salon: Mind the Gap
Digitaler Salon: Update Unbekannt?
Empowering Futures: Women, AI, and the Future of Work
Empowering Futures: Women, AI, and the Future of Work
Spotlight: Disinformation and the German election
Digitaler Salon: Gesprächsklimawandel
International Observatory on Information and Democracy (OID): A Major New Report on the State of News Media, AI and Data Governance
Human in the Loop: Mensch und Maschine in der Kreditvergabe
Spotlight: Community Notes statt Faktencheck
Intelligent Robotics for Society 5.0 & Industry 4.0
Zukunft der Content Moderation durch effektive Mensch-Maschine-Kollaboration
Digital Governance and Data Policy
Digitaler Salon: Desinformation im Faktencheck
Digitaler Salon: Wie bitte?
Lange Nacht der Wissenschaft
Digitaler Salon: Damage Control
Girls’ Day: Die Wissenschaft in Mädchenhänden
Digitaler Salon: (De)voted
Human in the Loop: Kreditvergabe im Fokus
Digitaler Salon: Quanten statt Quaken
Digitaler Salon: Gekommen, um zu regeln
Digitaler Salon: Fahrplan 4.0
Digitaler Salon: Invisible Patient
Online-Panel | Krieg in Nahost: Umgang mit Hassrede im Netz
Inspirational Talk in Mauritania: Women* who inspire in technology
Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue: Women* in the tech sector in Mauritania
Lunch Talk | Abstruse characteristics of people participation
Inspirational Talk in Cambodia: Women* who inspire in technology
Ideathon on Gender Equality and Equity in the Tech-Sector in Cambodia
Digitaler Salon: Mentale Mietfläche
Digitaler Salon: Frozen Eye
Interaktiver Workshop: KI menschlich erklärt
Digitaler Salon: Friede, Freude, Meinungsvielfalt?
Digitaler Salon: Großbaustelle Daten
Lunch Talk | The theory of artificial immutability: protecting algorithmic groups under anti-discrimination law
Lunch Talk | National platforms in a world of global platform giants: the case of Russian domestic competitors
Inspirational Talk in Ecuador: Women* who inspire in technology
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: A Gender Perspective on the Tech-Sector in Ecuador
Digitaler Salon: Faktenfieber
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: A Gender Perspective on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Tech-Sector in Mexico
Lunch Talk | AI, predictive modeling and sustainability
Girl’s Day – Die Wissenschaft in Mädchenhänden
Digitaler Salon: Nur mal kurz die Welt retten?
Lunch Talk | How India Became a Global Hub for IT Outsourcing and Consulting
Digitaler Salon: Von Gig zu Gig
Digitaler Salon: Chatbot potentia est!
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Artificial intelligence and sustainability in Mexico
Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Digital entrepreneurship for climate in Mexico
Hackathon. Entwicklung von KI-Erklärungsmodellen
Digitaler Salon: Green Surveillance
Lunch Talk Series I Digitalisation, Sustainability & Entrepreneurship
Digitaler Salon: Blinded by the Hype?
Infrastrukturen der Autonomie I Konferenz
Die Zukunft der Plattformaufsicht: Zur Umsetzung des DSA in Deutschland (Teil 1)
Lunch Talk Series I Digitalisation & Sustainability I Protection of Natural Resources
Berlin Science Week: Programmierte Diskriminierung?!
Digitaler Salon: Wissen MACHT Klima
Workshop II Künstliches Denken menschlich erklärt
Die Zukunft der Plattformaufsicht: Zur Umsetzung des DSA in Deutschland (Teil 2)
Digitaler Salon: Spirit in the Cloud
Workshop: künstliches Denken menschlich erklärt
Digitaler Salon: (Alb-) Traum 36°C und Dachgeschoss?
Malicious (ab)use of Artificial Intelligence
Digitaler Salon: Diese Karte ist nicht verfügbar
Digitaler Salon: Alles schon mal dagewesen?
Lunch Talk Series I Grand Challenges, Digitalisation & Sustainability
Digitaler Salon: Keeping up with the Gatekeepers
Digitaler Salon: Expertise in der Krise
Globalizing the European Media Order: The Brussels Effect in Times of Crisis
Digitaler Salon: Unable to Reconnect
Participation as expert (2)
Fachtag “Zukunft der Demokratie: Die Rolle von Künstlicher Intelligenz und Influencern”
Roundtable with Margrethe Vestager (European Commission): Technology is Never (Gender) Neutral
Position
Head of Engagement Units | Project Coordinator Human in the Loop?
Contact
