Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo

When I went to London, I was a bit lost—not just geographically, but personally. I didn’t really know what I was looking for. I’d wander around aimlessly, sit on park benches, explore tiny alleys, and just people-watch. But in all that quiet observing, something clicked. I started to realize that there’s no better education than being able to travel the world and see how different communities live, build, and thrive.

When I left the Philippines, I thought I was chasing only an education. What I didn't know then was that I was also running into a mirror—one that would reflect not just the world beyond our borders, but everything we still lack, everything we could become.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming the backbone of economic growth, public services, and even national security. Yet its benefits—and the power to set its rules—are overwhelmingly concentrated in a handful of wealthy nations. For countries across Africa, Latin America, and much of Asia, this imbalance not only stifles homegrown innovation but also risks perpetuating a new form of digital dependency.