Together with tech and business associations, the coalitions aim to democratize and promote responsible use of AI technology
Together with Microsoft, the Makati Business Club (MBC), Infocomm Technology Association of the Philippines (ITAP), Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), Women’s Business Council Philippines, and the US-ASEAN Business Council Inc., in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), announced the formation of the AI Pilipinas Coalition recently. Bringing together key organizations and leaders in government and the private sector, the Coalition endeavors to empower people and organizations through the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Across public and private sectors, industries and communities, AI will play a key role in helping the Philippines respond to and recover from COVID-19, build resiliency, and increase its competitiveness on the global stage in the years to come.
Designed and co-authored by the entire Coalition, the AI Action Agenda will help frame its national effort through six key pillar actions:
- Establish a clear mandate from the highest level of government for Philippines’ AI vision
- Define clear roles and responsibilities with government
- Build trust in AI by encouraging implementation of responsible AI
- Support data-driven innovation that is central to AI
- Provide legal and regulatory clarity to encourage responsible use of AI
- Prepare the workforce for the AI economy
During the launch, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez emphasized the critical role technology will play in the nation’s economic recovery, adding that AI, in particular, is poised to make a significant contribution to enabling Filipino individuals and enterprises for the future. Lopez said.
He added, “But even as there is an increase in use of AI and other Industry 4.0 technologies, our industries have yet to harness the benefits of such technologies and overcome key challenges to their adoption. “
Recent years have seen AI move increasingly into mainstream products thanks to a confluence of factors: the massive computing power of the cloud, the availability of enormous datasets that can be used to teach AI systems, breakthroughs in developing AI algorithms, and improvements in AI methods such as deep learning.
Microsoft’s AI tools and technologies are used in workplaces, classrooms, home offices, research labs, and manufacturing facilities around the world, empowering everyone from students to factory workers. “These tools and breakthroughs must be inclusive, available to everyone, and as AI systems become more mainstream, we believe that we all have a shared responsibility to create trusted AI systems—to work together to reach consensus about what principles and values should govern AI development and use.”
Carlo Subido, president of ITAP, embraces and advocates advances in AI. We, in the private sector – the businesses, the academe, our citizens, together with the government – need to frame our national effort to build a strong foundation for AI. This Coalition, which welcomes other businesses and organizations, represents the business sector’s commitment to promoting national and economic development through responsible AI.”
Trust is the foundation of Microsoft’s work in AI from its principled approach anchored on human-centered design, fairness, inclusiveness, reliability & safety, transparency, privacy & security, and accountability, to the shared responsibility it creates with customers and partners by providing practical guidance, best practices, and tools to enable the responsible creation of AI.
