Cayetano to vendors: Learn to embrace AI

CEBU, Philippines — Senator Pia Cayetano is urging women and vendors to use modern technology in running their business.

Speaking before leaders of the 5,000-member Cebu Coalition of United Vendors Association (CCUVA), Cayetano said that it could no longer be deny that the age of artificial intelligence has landed, a reason why part of the Women’s Month theme is AI.

“Yung Artificial Intelligence, how does that affect you?” the senator asked the CCUVA leaders, adding “How, diba? How? But times change and that’s why, I don’t want to hear you say, “tindera lang ako.” No. Don’t ever say that. We need to be sure na nag-upskill mu so that maka-compete ka and maka-survive ka sa economy of the future.”

Cayetano said that they want vendors to improve their livelihood through the use of AI.

But Cayetano admitted that through AI, certain jobs will be lost.

“But the personal human touch can never be replicated by AI. So, ang masarap na luto, hindi yan magagaya. So kung yan ang specialty mo, yung masarap na luto, hindi yan basta-basta makokopya, not in the near future, diba?. Ang personal touch sa business, hindi rin yan makopya. But there are a lot of things that AI can do to help your business grow. That’s why for me, I want na open-minded tanan,” the senator said.

To recall, CCUVA was a beneficiary of the Presyo, Trabaho, Kita/Kaayusan program of Cayetano and his brother, Senator Alan Peter, and received a total of P350,000 in 2014. The allocation was used to lend money among CCUVA members and the funds grew to almost P1 million.

During her visit to Cebu on March 7, 2024, the sports-minded senator introduced the sports padel, in a sports clinic in Barangay Pardo in Cebu City.

Dubbed as “Padel Para Sa Lahat,” Cayetano conducts a grassroots sports clinic for the local community.

The sports program was organized by Padel Pilipinas, the officially recognized padel federation in the country, in partnership with Play Padel Philippines.

Padel is a racket sport that combines elements of tennis and squash. It is typically played in doubles on an enclosed court about a third of the size of a tennis court. The sport is growing in popularity worldwide.

Cayetano brought in a coach from Padel Pilipinas Federation and used a tennis court to introduce participants to the sport since there is yet no padel court in Cebu City. — (FREEMAN)