Ad Sapientiam 2020

PRE-PRINT WITH DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER: 10.13140/RG.2.2.25081.31844
FR. TITO D. SOQUIŇO, OSA, PAOLO G. HILADO, DAVID S. HINOLAN

ABSTRACT:

The study focused on the global developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI), its advantages and disadvantages and potential impact to Region VI: Western Visayas, Philippines. Its utilization is expected to benefit the region in terms of growth in the subsectors of service involving construction, automotive, transportation, finance services and business activities thus furthering its Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP). However, its negative externalities include affecting the employees from Business Outsource Processing (BPO) industry, one of the region’s major job generator, as AI is capable of handling back office operations such as data collection and processing. The Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) can also be affected as many are deployed in countries that are heavily investing in AI research and development and are doing jobs that are mundane and repetitive; these are the same OFW that contribute a considerable portion in cash remittances. With AI’s potential to reshape job demands of the industry, the responsibility to ensure that future professionals are equipped with relevant skills befalls the academe. Expertise that will be in demand by 2030 would include those in healthcare, information technology, infrastructure, energy, climate adaptation, early childhood education, arts and entertainment and management. Study findings are expected to benefit the government emphasizing the need for policies in preparation for AI integration, the academic sector serving as a guide on the programs to offer to meet the dynamism in expertise demands and the employees informing them of the skillsets that will be deemed relevant in a society of Industry 4.0.

Key Words: Economics, Manpower, Artificial Intelligence, Education