Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo
Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo, founder of NightOwlGPT, is a leader in AI and language preservation, with a background in Philippine government and a commitment to inclusivity and sustainable development.
Emerging from the ethnolinguistic group of Karay-a, Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo carved a unique path through the governmental ranks, serving across four different administrations in the Philippines. Her tenure included significant roles in the Philippines' Build Build Build Program and as Undersecretary for the Department of Information and Communications Technology. She left her government role to further her education at the London School of Economics and subsequently founded Build Initiative. Her leadership is driven by a profound commitment to inclusivity, accessibility, and sustainable development, with a particular focus on addressing the vulnerabilities of her home country to climate change.
She graduated cum laude at the University of the Philippines Los Baños in 2012 with a degree of Development Communications, where she garnered the highest General Weighted Average for Development Journalism Majors and received the Faculty Medal for Academic Excellence. She completed her Executive Education in Economic Development at Harvard Kennedy School in 2018 and her Juris Doctor program at the UP College of Law in 2020. Currently, she is furthering her education with an Executive MSc in Cities at the London School of Economics.
In 2023, she became an officer of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) with the rank of Auxiliary Commodore (one-star rank).
She has been awarded Natatanging Iskolar Para sa Bayan and Oblation Statute for the Virtues of Industry and Magnanimity. In 2019, the Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Association bestowed upon her the Veritas Medal. She was named by BluPrint as one of 50 ASEAN movers and shakers, by Lifestyle Asia as one of 18 Game Changers, and by People Asia as one of 2019’s Women of Style and Substance. She maintains a column in the Op-Ed section of Manila Bulletin, Balata, People Asia and Esquire Magazine.
A Letter from the Founder
Dear Friends,
Today, we’re facing a silent crisis: nearly half of the world’s languages are endangered, and without urgent action, 95% could disappear by the end of this century. For me, as a member of the Karay-a ethnolinguistic group, this isn’t just a statistic—it’s a reality unfolding before my very eyes. Language, for my community and countless others, is more than words. It’s a vital connection to our heritage, our stories, and our values. It’s how we express who we are and where we come from. But these voices, so integral to our identity, are at risk of being silenced.
The global imbalance in AI development compounds this crisis. English speakers represent only 18.7% of the global population, yet they dominate AI research, development, and capacity. None of the top 20 countries leading the AI revolution are from developing nations, leaving languages like Karay-a—and thousands of others—vulnerable to extinction. The digital divide isn’t just about access to technology; it’s about the survival of culture, identity, and entire ways of life.
I’ve experienced firsthand the immense potential of technology as well as the barriers that prevent equitable access. During my time serving in the Philippine government, I saw the importance of building both physical and digital infrastructure to ensure no community is left behind. After stepping away from public service, I chose to continue my studies at the London School of Economics and Oxford University, driven by a determination to bridge the technology gap for communities like mine.
This journey led to the creation of NightOwlGPT, an AI-driven desktop and mobile application dedicated to preserving endangered languages and bridging the digital divide in marginalized communities worldwide. Built on the belief that voices shape worlds, NightOwlGPT democratizes AI technology, making it accessible to everyone—not just speakers of widely used languages. Our platform offers real-time translation, cultural insights, and interactive learning tools, empowering communities to safeguard their voices and thrive in the digital age.
NightOwlGPT is more than a tool; it’s a movement. With over 220,000 pre-signups and partnerships with NVIDIA Inception and Microsoft Founders Hub, we’re building momentum to bring this vision to life. Starting in the Philippines with languages like Tagalog, Cebuano, and Ilokano, we’re scaling globally to reach Asia, Africa, and Latin America—ensuring no language, culture, or community is left behind.
Thank you for joining us in this mission. Together, we can build a future where every voice is heard, every language is preserved, and every community is empowered to shape their own world.
Sincerely,
Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo
Founder & Chief Future Officer, NightOwlGPT
Status of Living Languages
42.6%
Endangered
Languages
7.4%
Institutional
Languages
50%
Stable
Languages