Coping with artificial intelligence

It was a Monday and I was asked by a certain foreign embassy to give a talk on the state of Philippine agriculture by Wednesday. Since Mondays and Tuesdays are my busiest workdays, writing a presentation on the fly was out of the question. Although I knew the key points I wanted to convey, I had no time to research the facts and figures.

Enter Chat GPT. With quick flicks of my fingers, I asked Chat GPT to write a 2,500-word presentation on Philippine agriculture. Lo and behold, a well formulated discourse appeared on my computer screen in a matter of seconds, complete with statistics. With data on hand, all I had to do was fact-check and tweak the material according to my message.

Artificial intelligence is now in the mainstream.

Many fear it, and rightfully so. Filipinos in particular are under threat. Artificial intelligence, or AI, will soon obliterate the main dollar generating jobs of the Philippine economy. These include voice-based call centers, medical and legal transcription, researchers, copywriters, animators, graphic designers and many more. It also threatens the frontliner jobs of our service-led economy. These include bank tellers, fast-food servers, retail cashiers and customer service representatives. The eventual adoption of AI could be catastrophic for our country if government fails to adapt quickly.

What makes artificial intelligence so threatening is that it is a general purpose technology, or “GPT.” In other words, it is a type of technology that can be utilized in a wide range of applications. Think of it like the steam engine of the 18th century. Not only did it revolutionize the textile industry, for which it was first applied, it also transformed the entire industrial sector, opening the way for mass production. Decades later, it went on to revolutionize the transportation sector with the steam locomotive, the power industry with the steam-powered electric plant and maritime travel with steamships, among many others.

That’s the scary thing about GPTs – they have the power to change the way we live, work and recreate. True, many jobs will be lost. But in the same breath, bigger opportunities are created.

Recall how the steam engine affected the textile industry back in the 18th century. While hundreds of hand weavers lost their jobs, the steam engine allowed textile production to increase 100-fold at cheaper costs. This lead to a boom in the cotton trade, shipping and retail, all of which generated hundreds of thousands of jobs in exchange. 

We may not be aware but GPTs have been a constant phenomenon for centuries. Each changed the world in sweeping ways.

One GPT emerged in the 15th century and that was the three-masted sailing ships. Its creation allowed Spain and Portugal to circumnavigate the world and develop colonies. It also gave rise to organized maritime cargo trade.

In the 18th century, two GPTs emerged and these were the steam engine and printing. Both paved the way for England’s industrialization and ascent as superpower.

The 19th century saw the development of four GPTs – railways & locomotives, iron steamships, internal combustion engines and electricity. These technologies underpinned the rapid development of America and Western Europe.

The 20th century gave rise to seven GPTs. They are the motor vehicle, the airplane, mass production, just-in-time manufacturing, biotechnology, the computer and the internet. We all know how these technologies modernized our world. Suffice it to say that in the 20th century, global economic activity multiplied by 30 times on the back of these GPTs.

Just 23 years into the 21st century and two GPTs have already emerged – artificial intelligence and nanotechnology. Like the GPTs that came before it, both are destined to change everything.

What’s interesting is that the emergence of new GPTs is happening with increasing frequency. They now occur every decade.

How the Philippines can leverage on AI

Rather than be a victim of AI, government must find ways to use it to the country’s advantage. There are three ways to do so.  As an enabler, an optimizer or an adaptor.

To be an enabler means being responsible for the backroom development, operations and promulgation of AI. Filipino companies can play a role in the fields of research & development, data engineering, analytics, programming and the management of data centers.

To be an optimizer is largely a consultancy affair where Filipino companies lead organizations (from varied industries, sectors and countries) towards maximizing the use of AI. In other words, Filipino enterprises can be specialists in the utilization, customization and optimization of AI.

To be an adaptor means that Filipino companies be among the first to utilize AI to increase global competitiveness, market share and profitability.

Whether the Philippines thrives in the age of AI or becomes collateral damage to it is all up to government. Our leaders must create the right ecosystem for the adoption and monetization of AI.

The good news is that government is already taking steps in the right direction.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology and the Department of Trade and Industry have already formulated the national AI roadmap. This roadmap identifies priority areas for AI utilization and creates the framework for collaboration between government, industry and the academe. The DICT is also spearheading skills training with free online courses on AI and related topics.

For its part, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is funding research and development programs focused on AI.

Government is also developing a regulatory framework for AI which addresses such issues as data privacy, cybersecurity and ethical considerations.

Whether or not government is working fast enough or smart enough remains to be seen. One thing is for sure – the AI revolution is here and its effects will span far and wide. It could either break our economy or catapult us to new levels of wealth. It all depends on how government manages it.

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Email: [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @aj_masigan