'PH should pursue open AI innovation'

A technology expert said the Philippines should avoid establishing artificial intelligence (AI) regulators, noting it could hamper innovation and investment in the field. To date, 14 bills and resolutions on AI have been filed in the House of Representatives, most of them stuck at the committee level. "We don't think you need super AI regulators. We think you're going to get double up on regulation, going to get confusion. You probably get a reduction in innovation and an investment in the space," said IBM Asia Pacific Vice President Stephen Braim. He said a better option is to support open AI innovation and not a licensing regime, as this could lead to monopoly. Braim added that the government could draft AI frameworks using the Asean Guide on AI Governance and Ethics, which fosters interoperability across jurisdictions. "We think it's the right way forward," he said Braim added that when used properly, AI is a powerful tool to achieve progress. "AI is not a destroyer of jobs; it is a creator of jobs. There is going to be a net economic benefit from AI that will see more jobs created over time that are higher value-added that require greater investments in the education system," Braim said. He added that he was against proposals to compensate people who will lose their work due to AI. "The moment you go down that path, any economic change that creates structural adjustment in the economy, you're going to hamstring that change because there's a big cost associated with it. We think that those bills are not necessary," Braim said, noting government agencies specializing in technology should be the ones leading the discussion on AI risk, regulation and ethics. "I think in the Philippines, the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) does have a very strong role and a very strong voice to industry about what is right and what is wrong, and trying to get that balance right between innovation, consumer protection, ethics and trust," he added.