While the extent of the impact on various sectors stemming from the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) has yet to be determined, experts from the academe, representatives from several industries, and government officials emphasized the need for professionals to be well-versed with this emerging technology that will shape the jobs of the future.
Aspects of AI adoption in different sectors were tackled during the 7th National Convention of the Government, Academe, and Industry Network (GAIN) last October 4 at the Asian Institute of Management Conference Center to discuss ways and opportunities for collaboration in preparing the Filipino workforce for an AI-driven future.
Industry leaders and university heads also gathered during a working luncheon, which took place during the convention, where they explored possible solutions and collaborative projects in bridging the gap between industry demand and the skills of graduates in the country. “In gathering representatives from the academe, government, and industry, we can initiate conversations that will spark ideas and form plans for mutually beneficial collaborations on talent development and acquisition,” said GAIN President Monette Iturralde-Hamlin.
Upskilling and reskilling is a must.
Industry representatives, including Jonathan de Luzuriaga from the Philippine Software Industry Association, Gina Romero of Mettamatch, and Vincent Remo of the Healthcare Information Management Association of the Philippines, along with Rex Wallen Tan of Southville Global Education Network, Inc. have showcased the many ways different industries have adapted AI into their operations. Despite the widespread adoption of AI among organizations, industry leaders emphasized the value of human intervention in AI-automated tasks.
Daniel Enriquez, Executive Director of the Animation Council of the Philippines, explained that, while generative AI can improve work speed and allow for ideas to take visual shape within seconds, the human element can never be taken away from the creative process.
“Art generated by AI might look remarkable for a regular person, but only an artist has the eye and the ability to tweak and refine specific elements and nitpicks that AI might overlook,” he said.
The same holds true for the healthcare industry. Carelon Global Solutions Philippines’ Chief Country Executive Nicki Agcaoili said, “In the healthcare industry, data, technology, and AI generate actionable insights and help drive efficiencies. Powered by humans, it is important that they are used responsibly and for a purpose.”
With human skills remaining valuable in an increasingly AI-driven world, continuous learning was recently identified as key to success by ETS’s 2024 Human Progress Report.
Kennon Harrison, Jr., Head of Corporate Workforce Partnerships at ETS, named skills as the new currency of future jobs and called for professionals to update their skills through upskilling and reskilling.
IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) President Jack Madrid echoed Harrison’s call for updating of skills and retraining, especially in the IT and business process management industry, where around 67 percent of companies have already integrated AI into their operations.
“Jury’s still out on the impact of AI, but it’s clearly here to stay. How it will impact the work we do is not yet clear, and so we must take on the responsibility to upskill and reskill,” Madrid said.
Frameworks to address skill gaps
Dr. Jhino Ilano, Director of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), highlighted a report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), revealing that two out of five employees face a skills mismatch, where their abilities do not align with the demands of their job roles. This growing issue, Dr. Ilano noted, emphasizes the urgent need for initiatives that bridge the gap between educational qualifications and workforce requirements.
To address this, the DICT, in collaboration with key industry associations, spearheaded the development of the Philippine Skills Frameworks for the Information Technology, Business Process Management, and Frontier Technologies, namely: contact center, healthcare information management services, global in-house center, software development, and data analytics and artificial intelligence. PSFs will serve as a structured guide, outlining the essential skills and competencies required for various roles within these industries.
Data privacy consultant Dr. Rolando Lansigan and Dr. Christian Alis, Academic Program Director for Master of Science in Data Science at the Asian Institute of Management, also identified the need to strengthen the curriculum in both basic and higher education in training Filipino students in emerging technologies like AI.
For its part, GAIN is already engaged in several programs and efforts geared toward training globally competitive Filipino talents. Most notable are the GAIN SGEN Reading Program, a technology-based solution for challenged readers requiring no internet connection, and the English for Tagalog Speakers course on the popular language learning platform Duolingo.
GAIN Chairman Dr. Peter Laurel added, “Our focus has always been on helping Filipino graduates and our workforce meet international standards. Today, we are happy to be joined by industry players actively participating and supporting our goal of empowering Filipinos to be globally competitive.”
