Prepare for artificial intelligence, gov’t urged
A veteran solon urged the country’s policymakers, from legislative and the executive branch, to discuss and consider the artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy.
According to Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, leaders must tackle with urgency the creation of an agency tasked to craft guidelines on governance and ethics and act as “guardrail” in the use, development and implementation of a national AI strategy.
Barbers, chair of the House committee on dangerous drugs, said regulators across the world, from the United States, Great Britain, European Union, some ASEAN countries like Singapore, among others are currently rushing to draft regulations to govern the use of the booming AI technology.
Early this year, the solon from Mindanao filed a bill calling for the creation of a “superbody” to be known as Artificial Intelligence Development Authority (AIDA) to oversee the development and deployment of AI technologies, ensuring compliance with AI ethics principles and guidelines, and protecting the rights and welfare of individuals and communities affected by AI technologies.
“While the rapid phase of technological advancement in AI provides huge potential in the development of the people and the economy, it also poses risks and challenges that must be addressed to ensure that its benefits are maximized, and its negative impacts are minimized, if not avoided,” Barbers said.
“Tulad ng paghahanda natin, kasama na ang pamahalaan, sa mga sakuna tulad ng bagyo, baha, lindol, sunog at iba pa, dapat din natin paghandaan ang daluyong na pwedeng dalhin sa ating bansa ng AI technology. Kasama na rin dito ang pagharap at paggamit ng kabutihang maidudulot nito sa ating lipunan, bansa at ekonomiya,” he added.
Recently, the University of the Philippines released a draft set of 10 guiding principles on the “responsible use” of AI in response to the rapid development and adoption of the technology, especially in an academic environment.
The draft text outlines the “UP Principles for Responsible Artificial Intelligence” use and development in the university and for the public good. It asked students, teachers and other members of the UP community to make suggestions to improve the draft.
On the issue of possible job displacement, Barbers said he has received reports that the local BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) industry, where there are more than 528,000 call center employees, as well other industries involving online marketing and search engine optimization, finance, health care organizations, transportation, retail, among others, may be affected by the entry and use AI technology in the country.
