During the BingoPlus x Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) partnership event on April 13, candidates shared their perspectives on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in crafting answers for the pageant’s Q&A segment.
Representatives from various regions, including Mandaue (Victoria Leslie Ingram), San Pablo (Eunice Deza), Southern California (Janet Hammond), Quezon Province (Ahtisa Manalo), Pasig (Selena Alexis Antonio-Reyes), Siargao (Joshell de Ocampo), and Quirino (Stephanie Faye Gerona), gathered at the Lima Hotel in Lipa, Batangas for the launch.
Antonio-Reyes disclosed her use of AI tools like ChatGPT to aid her preparation. While acknowledging the assistance, she emphasized the importance of personalizing the answers to reflect her own voice and thoughts.
“So, from there, I get to have some idea of how the answer is supposed to be said. And then I try to tweak it in a way na it comes from me.”
Hammond, Manalo, Gerona, and de Ocampo echoed similar sentiments, leveraging AI tools for information while ensuring their responses remained authentic and genuine. They stressed that while AI can provide insights, it should not overshadow the individual’s sincerity and authenticity.
“It is only a soulless algorithm that doesn’t know the heart of a true Filipina. If you want to share an impact to the Philippines or to the universe, it should come from the inside. There is a way to generally show that very authentically, it doesn’t have to be even perfect; you just have to be real and genuine,” she explained.
Manalo highlighted the judges’ preference for personal responses over AI-generated ones, emphasizing the need for candidates to express their genuine thoughts and emotions.
“I do think that we have to be able to share our thoughts and how we feel about things and our views on things.”
Gerona viewed the use of AI as a means of personal growth, both as a beauty queen and a mother, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and adaptation to technology.
“I wanted to learn, I wanted to grow. This is really something for me. Something new, and then something growing. I also have to keep on growing just like them. That’s why as a mom, I never stop growing. That’s why I also adapt to the fast technology right now,” she stated.
De Ocampo acknowledged the utility of AI in expanding knowledge and understanding, particularly in areas where candidates may lack expertise.
“ChatGPT or AI or this tool is actually very helpful. We can actually use this one to get ideas, to get information. Because we actually don’t know all of the information. So we need to research, we need this tool for us to have more knowledge on those words that we don’t know yet or new for us,” she explained.
Conversely, Ingram and Deza opted not to utilize AI tools. Ingram preferred traditional research methods, including watching TED Talks, to stimulate critical thinking and develop potential Q&A scenarios.
“When you get to hear their thoughts, you start to reverse engineer. ‘Okay what if I would get to be asked this kind of question?’ And from this question, what are the other subtopics that would come out from this specific topics. Parang ganoon, like it’s a never-ending cycle for me,” Ingram shared.
Deza, while acknowledging the benefits of technology, emphasized the importance of self-control and awareness of its limitations.
“We have been molded by modernization and technology. During my collegiate year, we have been affected by the pandemic. So, we need to adapt to the online classes. So, for me, modernization or using technology to help us sharpen our knowledge and skills would be effective,” Deza answered. “But we should learn how to manage and we should always remember that there’s a limitation and that we shouldn’t be controlled by this technology. Because we are the ones who made this. We should always control ourselves.”
These insightful perspectives reflect the diverse approaches of Miss Universe Philippines candidates in preparing for the pageant’s Q&A segment, showcasing a blend of traditional and modern methods. As they gear up for the competition on May 22, 2024, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Bay City, Pasay, Philippines, their commitment to authenticity and personal growth remains unwavering.
