Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17) – A lawmaker on Sunday urged Congress and the Palace to tackle the creation of an agency that will oversee the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
According to Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, at least 520,000 employees from call centers, online marketing and search engine development, finance, health care organizations, transportation and retail may be affected by the use of AI in the country.
“Dapat din natin paghandaan ang daluyong na puwedeng 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 said in a statement.
[Translation: We should prepare for the impact that the AI technology may bring to our country. This includes its proper use for the benefit of our society, country, and economy.]
“We should have a ‘watchdog’ to guard against unscrupulous individuals, like bandits or terrorist groups, that would take advantage of or use it for their selfish or criminal ends,” he added.
Last March, Barbers filed a bill seeking to create the Artificial Intelligence Development Authority.
Under the bill, the proposed AI monitoring body will be tasked to supervise the “development and deployment of AI technologies,” ensure “compliance with AI ethics principles and guidelines” and protect the “rights and welfare of individuals and communities affected by AI technologies.”
The University of the Philippines earlier said it is crafting a policy on the \”responsible\” use of AI in the academe. It also cited 10 proposed principles to be adopted by the university.
The principles emphasized the need for AI to be beneficial to Filipinos by \”fostering inclusive economic growth, sustainable development, political empowerment and enhanced well-being.\”
READ: UP drafting guidelines for ‘responsible’ AI use
Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy earlier said the agency is looking into requests to regulate the use of AI in the workplace.
READ: DICT chief backs calls for AI regulation in workplace
International Labour Organization Director General Gilbert Houngbo said a worker’s lack of skill is a threat to employment, rather than AI.
