AI in the Philippines: Building the Ecosystem from the Ground Up
A reflection on what it has taken to build the artificial intelligence and data science ecosystem in the Philippines — from research and education to governance and national …
☕️E.F. Legara
Chief AI and Data Officer | AI Strategy Executive & Board Advisor
Center for AI Research
Professional Summary
Erika Fille T. Legara is a pioneering Filipina scientist and one of the leading women in AI in the Philippines, working across government, academia, and industry as a data science and AI practitioner. She is the inaugural Managing Director and Chief AI and Data Officer of the Philippine Center for AI Research, and an Associate Professor and Aboitiz Chair in Data Science at the Asian Institute of Management, where she founded and led the country’s first MSc in Data Science program from 2017 to 2024. An Eisenhower Fellow, her work focuses on responsible AI governance and algorithmic auditing. She serves on corporate boards, is a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Directors, an IAPP Certified AI Governance Professional, and a co-founder of a technology company. Her recognitions include the 2020 NAST Outstanding Young Scientist Award, TOYM and TOWNS honors, and selection as an Asia 21 Young Leader (Class of 2022).
Education
PhD Physics
University of the Philippines Diliman
MS Physics
University of the Philippines Diliman
BSc Physics (cum laude)
University of the Philippines Diliman
Interests
Artificial Intelligence
Network Science
Complexity Science
AI Governance
Data, Complexity, and Innovation
The unglamorous work that makes AI possible
AI fails when the data underneath it fails. Fragmented systems, no common identifiers, no clear ownership, and no accountability when things break are enough to undermine even the …
The Monty Hall Problem in Digital Transformation: Overcoming Cognitive Biases
Despite aiming for rational decisions in digital initiatives, we often fall prey to cognitive biases like the sunk cost fallacy and the tendency to stick with initial choices, as …
Unlocking the AI Advantage – The Future Won’t Wait
I was recently invited to engage with the directors and C-level executives of Xurpas, through the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), to discuss the tremendous opportunities in …
The Intersection of AI, Physics, and the 2024 Nobel Prize
The awarding of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics to John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton sparked a flurry of discussion in both the AI and Physics communities. This blog reflects on …
Featured Publications
Leveraging Existing Legal Authority to Guide AI Development
Typology, network features and damage response in worldwide urban road systems
J.F. Valenzuela
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Recent & Upcoming Talks
Foreign Service Institute's 17th Partners' Lecture Series
Digital Transformation and Decision Intelligence in Diplomacy Foreign ministries today operate in an environment defined by information overload, compressed timelines, and growing …
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The Role of the Board in AI Transformation
As I always say (or warn!), AI transformation isn’t for the faint of heart. Boards must lead with a sharp DSAI Strategy (Data Science and AI) that aligns with organizational goals. …
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Operationalizing AI Governance
Had a fantastic time in Seoul to join a small-group, insightful discussion on Operationalizing AI Governance, with a special focus on standards setting. It was so nice and …
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8th Ayala Corporation-FINEX 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒕 and FINEX 9th GMM
Honored to have been the keynote speaker at the 8th Ayala Corporation-FINEX 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒕 and FINEX 9th GMM. Thank you for the invitation to share about the Center for AI Research …
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GNAM Deans and Directors Meeting
At the 2024 AACSB ICAM, joining a distinguished plenary panel alongside Asian Institute of Management President and Dean Jikyeong Kang, Dean Saïd Business School, University of …
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