By DERCO ROSAL

Data powers artificial intelligence (AI), allowing it to learn and make decisions. However, as AI progresses, getting access to data is becoming harder. Alarmingly, only a few big tech companies now control much of the data, keeping it within their own systems.

With this, we ask: Is it fair for a few tech giants to control the data that drives the future of artificial intelligence?

Echoing our collective cry, two brilliant minds answer no. Access to the data that powers AI should be taken from the hands of these giant companies.

Thus, Art Abal and Anna Kazlauskas, both with Filipino roots, are changing the future of data. They aim to build a system where no one controls all the data, ensuring it stays a tool for empowerment.

Its development began when Art and Anna co-founded VANA, a startup that uses blockchain technology to empower users to control their own digital footprints.

Art Abal and his footprints across the world

Born in Iligan to Cebuano parents, Art Abal’s path from high-rise global law firms to Colombian coffee farms has shaped his mission as COO of VANA—to redefine the intersection of technology and society in the AI era.

Beginning his career as a corporate lawyer, Art honed a sharp understanding of the intricate relationship between law and data while also exploring the societal implications of AI.

With his solutions centered around human needs, Art led efforts in finding creative ways to use people—especially from underrepresented communities—to power AI systems.

As soon as he set foot in Harvard and worked at the Belfer Center, his passion grew deeper towards the potential of AI in changing our society.

Imagine how huge his influence has become when even developing nations like Timor-Leste picked to advise its prime minister on policy and legal matters.

Besides leaving an impact in Asia, Art has also found a space in South America—Colombia. He helped Nespresso use data to understand the impact of its supply chain on local communities.

In the bare world, Art has literally left footprints as he walked across continents to confront the tangible implications of governance, data rights, and technology's impact on society.

While the physical footprints may have been erased, a different kind of “footprint” has engraved its mark in the changing ways of emerging societies.

Anna Kazlauskas: The girl who saw the world through data

Here comes Anna, whose mother is a Kapampangan. Equipped with a solid foundation in Computer Science and Economics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Anna is elevating Tarlac Province's profile as a leader in blockchain and AI advancements.

Since childhood, Anna has seen the world through the lens of data. At one point, she even developed a program that turned US inflation data into a song.

Like Art, Anna has gone to different places, each one adding a block to her expertise.

At Celo, Anna developed blockchain technologies aimed at helping more people access financial services.

During her internship at the World Bank, she was excited to work with different types of data but saw that other interns were busy sorting through documents all summer.

How often do we overlook opportunities for innovation while stuck in routine tasks? Anna seems to have noticed one as she seized the opportunity to automate the task, which resulted in the creation of her first company, Iambiq, and eventually led her to the prestigious YCombinator.

Further, from 2014 to 2017, Anna worked on Ethereum crypto mining and collaborated with central banks and international organizations to link technology with financial policies. This work complements Art’s knowledge of governance and data rights.

Together, Art and Anna used their different experiences to create a more inclusive environment for people and data, resulting in VANA’s founding.

What linked Art and Anna together

Beyond their technical chemistry, their shared “people-first” solutions gravitated one to the other.

Anna and Art’s journey started in a class at the MIT Media Lab, where they focused on creating technology that helps developing countries.

With a shared goal to help underserved communities affected by rapid AI growth, Anna and Art launched TOCA, a project that allows low-income communities to label data using their smartphones.

TOCA’s successful launch in Cebu and Manila showed the Philippines' ability to close the AI gap, but their studies at MIT took precedence, putting the project on hold to refine their vision.

After completing their studies, they launched VANA, a project focused on revolutionizing data ownership. This platform allows users to take back their data and use it across different apps.

Inspired by the word 'Nirvana,' VANA aims to be the top digital space for AI, fostering connections and economic activity without the influence of the tech giants.

The move to decentralize data caught the eye of top crypto venture capitalists, with Paradigm and Polychain quickly supporting the duo.

‘Cessation of Suffering’: Breaking away from the chains of the giants

Really, no one wants to be caught in the loop of exploitation by parasitic tech companies.

With Filipinos among the world's most active social media users, generating a huge amount of data, Art and Anna believe now is the perfect moment to leverage this wealth of information for the country’s benefits.

VANA, founded by individuals rooted in Filipino heritage, empowers Filipinos to take control of their data through ethical sourcing and user consent, offering a solution to the challenges of AI development.

VANA uses blockchain technology to allow people manage their data, improving AI while preserving their privacy.

Isn’t it clear that when people feel their data is being exploited, they’re ready to take a stand and seek control? This is made evident in the global success of VANA and initiatives like the Reddit Data DAO, which attracted over 140,000 participants in just one week.

Locally, VANA’s technology helps AI grasp local cultures and languages, leading to more inclusive technologies that truly reflect the community.

As AI evolves, VANA aims to shift the power of managing data away from corporations. They are giving it back to its owners—the people.

For Art and Anna, their goal goes beyond creating a tech company; it's about enabling Filipinos to keep up with the marching of the world.

“This is one direct way in which Filipinos can really participate in this emerging data economy,” Art said in strong conviction.

For them, this isn't just a business—it’s also a movement on track to create a lasting print for next generations.

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