Cover This Filipino scientist, educator and strategist is building AI for good and leading the charge toward a responsible digital future (Photo: Erika Fille Legara)
This Filipino scientist, educator and strategist is building AI for good and leading the charge toward a responsible digital future (Photo: Erika Fille Legara)
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As AI deeply embeds in society, ensuring its responsible development is more urgent than ever—a challenge that scientist, educator and AI strategist Erika Fille Legara is tackling head-on
The Philippines is swiftly embracing artificial intelligence (AI), a technology that enables machines to mimic human intelligence.
A Microsoft Philippines report reveals that eight out of 10 Filipino knowledge workers already use AI—matching the regional average. Meanwhile, 75 per cent of Filipino CEOs trust AI integration in key business processes, according to PwC’s 2025 Global CEO Survey.
While enthusiasm is high, its rapid adoption raises pressing ethical concerns—bias, misinformation, and job displacement among them. These concerns underscore the importance of responsible innovation—a principle that drives Dr Erika Fille Legara, a scientist, educator, and strategy advisor shaping the future of AI and data science in the Philippines.
Legara, managing director and chief AI and data officer at the Center for AI Research (CAIR), leads initiatives positioning the Philippines as a key player in AI’s global landscape. Her work, as recognised in Tatler Asia’s Most Influential 2024, merges academia, strategy and innovation, rooted in intellectual curiosity, ethical responsibility and a passion for mentoring the next generation of AI leaders.
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Finding the balance
As AI advances at an unprecedented pace, Legara highlights the urgency of ethical AI development. “Too often, the risks associated with AI systems are treated as an afterthought,” she warns. “These risks operate on multiple levels—affecting individuals, groups, organisations and entire societies.”
She stresses that it is crucial for developers, scientists and leaders to recognise that ethical AI development and responsible innovation are fundamental, not optional.
“Effective governance must address ethical considerations alongside legal compliance and technical robustness. It's about creating AI systems that are not just powerful, but also trustworthy and beneficial to society.”
AI ethics, according to Coursera, ensure technology is developed responsibly—safe, secure, and humane. UNESCO warns that without ethical guardrails, AI risks perpetuating biases and discrimination, fuelling divisions, and threatening human rights.
Legara emphasises that systems are fundamentally sociotechnical—they exist within and impact human societies. She notes, “Every technological decision we make has ripple effects on communities and individuals. This awareness should guide our leadership approach, ensuring we consider both technical excellence and social responsibility in everything we do.”
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Pursuit of solutions
Legara has always been drawn to problem-solving, which has guided her through her career. “I’ve always been fascinated by elegant solutions and algorithms that combine simplicity with powerful capabilities,” she says. This passion led her to computational and statistical physics, where she honed her ability to apply data, mathematics and algorithms to real-world challenges. “I was fortunate to be in this space even before Harvard Business Review declared ‘Data Scientist’ the sexiest job of the 21st century in 2012.”
Her defining moment came in 2017 when she returned to the Philippines after six years as a scientist and principal investigator at Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology, and Research. “I was invited to design and implement the Philippines’ first comprehensive data science programme at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), the country’s premier institution for developing leaders in data science and AI.”
She spearheaded the creation of AIM’s Master of Science in Data Science (MSDS) programme, launched in November 2017 and recognised as the first graduate-level data science degree in the Philippines. This marked a significant milestone in formalising data science education in the country.
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Cultivating future AI leaders
Above Legara with Education Secretary Sonny Angara and House Committee on Basic Education and Culture Chairperson Representative Roman Romulo (Photo: Department of Education)
Legara with Education Secretary Sonny Angara and House Committee on Basic Education and Culture Chairperson Representative Roman Romulo (Photo: Department of Education)
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As the architect of the MSDS programme at AIM—the first of its kind in the country—Legara sought to cultivate well-rounded professionals who could bridge technical expertise with leadership. It’s structured to strike a balance between deep technical training in AI and data science and essential business management courses.
Legara refers to MSDS graduates as “battalion commanders”—leaders who can guide organisations through digital transformation and AI adoption. “We measure impact through the calibre of our graduates, their career trajectories, and most importantly, their ability to build and lead teams through digital transformation and AI adoption,” she explains.
In February of this year, the Department of Education (DepEd), with the help of Legara, launched the Education Center for AI Research (E-CAIR) to streamline processes like voucher distribution, student health data collection, public query response, and school resource mapping.
For young Filipinos aspiring to make an impact in science and technology, Legara has a simple advice: “Focus on mastering the fundamentals—they're the building blocks that will support your entire career. At the same time, cultivate interests beyond your immediate field. The most impactful innovations often emerge at the intersection of different disciplines.”
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Defining a country’s AI future
Above Legara speaks at a national convention organised by the Bankers Institute of the Philippines (Photo: Erika Fille Legara)
Legara speaks at a national convention organised by the Bankers Institute of the Philippines (Photo: Erika Fille Legara)
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As a co-author of the Philippines’ National AI Strategy Roadmap, she played a key role in defining the country’s AI trajectory. First released in 2021 and updated in 2024, the roadmap evolves with AI advancements.
“Our challenge was ensuring inclusive representation across various sectors while crafting a living document,” she shares. “We needed to address immediate concerns and anticipate future challenges in AI adoption and ethical deployment. This required careful balance between ambition and practicality.”
Legara also serves as the Managing Director and Chief AI and Data Officer at the Center for AI Research (CAIR) in the Philippines, where she ensures that AI-driven innovations balance technological advancement with societal responsibility, aligning with the goals of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
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Beyond setting strategic goals, she cultivates partnerships between industry and academia, fostering collaboration to address AI’s ethical challenges. She oversees high-impact AI and data science R&D projects focused on responsible AI development and deployment.
Her roles naturally intertwine and help her have a unified approach. “As a leader, I must focus on being strategic and forward-thinking, envisioning possibilities and charting clear paths forward. My academic foundation ensures everything we do is grounded in intellectual rigour,” Legara explains.
Commitment to responsible innovation
Above Legara delivers a speech before the officials of the Department of Education (Photo: Erika Fille Legara)
Legara delivers a speech before the officials of the Department of Education (Photo: Erika Fille Legara)
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Although Legara has earned numerous accolades—including a nomination for the Eisenhower Fellowship, recognition in the Asian Scientist 100 list and a finalist spot for the Women in AI APAC Awards—she is refreshingly unfazed by personal recognition, “I view recognitions not as personal achievements but as validations of the work we're doing in AI and data science.”
Her work is a reminder that AI is not just about algorithms and automation—it is about the people it serves. Her leadership is defined by the pursuit of impact, ensuring that AI remains a tool for empowerment rather than exploitation.
As AI continues to shape the future, Legara’s influence is a blueprint and a challenge—to innovate responsibly, to question relentlessly and to build systems that reflect not just what is possible, but what is right. In doing so, she is ensuring that progress is not only rapid but also meaningful and just for all.
Syrah is Tatler Philippines’ Power & Purpose editor, where she spotlights extraordinary journeys shaping the Philippines and Asia. She covers business, innovation, impact, and culture—chasing the people, ideas and forces shaping how we live and think today.
