DLSU launches philosophy and AI degree program

De La Salle University said on Wednesday that it aims to produce critical, ethical, and normative thinking leaders in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry through its newly launched program, the Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Artificial Intelligence (BA-PAI).

“The AB-PAI is our commitment to developing human-centered AI leaders who can ensure these powerful tools are used for social good and global welfare,” Benito L. Teehankee, one of the course designers, said in a statement.

The transdisciplinary degree, which bridges humanities and technology, is a collaboration between the university’s College of Liberal Arts, the College of Computer Studies, and the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business.

Topics to be discussed in the program include ethics, governance, and regulatory considerations in the development and deployment of AI.

Mr. Teehankee noted that one of the drivers of the new program is the rising demand for AI-skilled workers. “The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence demands professionals who can not only build new technologies but also critically assess their impact on society.”

As the emerging technology continues to expand across different industries, online learning platform Coursera underscored that Filipino learners are striving to meet the demands that come with the new technology.

Data from the platform’s year-end report showed that the Philippines recorded around 125,000 generative AI enrollments in 2025, mainly in courses offered by Google, IBM, and DeepLearning.AI.

According to the 2025 Future of Jobs report by the World Economic Forum (WEF), AI, big data, networks, cybersecurity, and technological literacy are among the most in-demand skills by 2030.

The report added that AI and other technologies are expected to displace nine million jobs within the next five years. However, it would also create about 11 million new positions by 2030.

DepEd’s AI Center
To help more Filipino learners prepare and adapt to the ever-changing digital landscape, the Department of Education (DepEd) vowed to allocate P100 million to establish an AI center for Filipino learners and educators.

Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara, in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, said that the agency has also partnered with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to review the new AI curriculum, which is scheduled to be completed by the first quarter or early second quarter of 2026.

“We put up an AI center, and together with the MIT, we are finalizing the AI curriculum of the Philippines,” Mr. Angara said in Filipino. “The help from MIT is free, they offered it to us to review our curriculum.”— Almira Louise S. Martinez