US offers AI to counter Chinese aggression

THE Philippines is gearing up for a long-term collaborative effort with the United States, focusing on the integration of cutting-edge technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), to combat aggression from China, among others.

This was disclosed by Joe Wang, a senior advisor for the Washington, D.C.-based Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), in an interview with The Manila Times Tuesday evening.

Wang, together with SCSP Vice President and Chief of Staff Angela Arriola Ponmakha and SCSP Associate Director for Foreign Policy Channing Lee, just concluded a strategic three-day visit to Manila.

During their visit, the delegation engaged with multiple Philippine government bodies, including the Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Science and Technology (DoST), and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), to explore the intersection of technology, security and economic cooperation.

The SCSP delegation and Philippine government officials explored several critical topics during their meetings, including regional geopolitics and security.

As the Philippines continues to navigate a delicate balance between relations with the United States and China, SCSP's discussions included the roles of both nations in regional security.

According to Wang, both sides examined how emerging technologies, such as AI and cybersecurity tools, are reshaping defense strategies in the Indo-Pacific region.

He said they also discussed with Filipino officials the technology priorities for the Philippines.

Wang said conversations addressed the country's key technological needs, including bolstering its digital infrastructure, enhancing cybersecurity resilience and promoting STEM education.

Both sides also tackled the possibility of future partnerships, considering the SCSP has a history of establishing strategic partnerships with global institutions.

Wang said the visit to Manila raised possibilities for similar collaborations in the Philippines.

He said potential areas include AI-powered national defense projects, educational initiatives and infrastructure development that could benefit from SCSP's expertise and resources.

This cooperation comes at a pivotal moment in US-Philippine relations, which have seen increased military collaboration in recent years, especially under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Wang emphasized during the interview that the collaboration would not only involve military applications of AI but would also extend to elements of national security that affect economic stability, cybersecurity and technological innovation.

He outlined a shared vision of leveraging AI and other advanced technologies as critical components in enhancing the operational capabilities of the Philippine armed forces.

This partnership aims to bolster the country's readiness in the face of increasing maritime confrontations and territorial disputes in the South China Sea, an area that is experiencing heightened tensions and military posturing from China.

The US-Philippine cooperation could revolve around integrating AI into various sectors, including intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance and logistical operations.

The advisory noted that AI technologies could enhance the Philippines' capabilities in detecting and responding to aggressive actions in real-time, allowing for improved situational awareness and strategic decision-making.

Wang underscored the importance of not just technology transfer but also the development of local expertise in AI and cybersecurity.

"National security is not the only thing that matters when it comes to AI," he said.

Wang said one of the key things that are being seen now is disinformation and misinformation.

"Issues, such as the war in Ukraine, election and Covid, are what the adversaries want to spread disinformation and misinformation to advance their own agendas," he said. "And those are what we want to counter."

Disinformation and misinformation are not new, but how AI can accelerate the threat is something that people should worry about, said Wang, who has been involved with the AI Commission that was created by the US Congress in 2018 to study all national security issues after it saw China moving ahead on AI.

"It is something coming up that is a real threat today," he said.

Filipino officials have welcomed the initiative, viewing it as a critical step in safeguarding the nation's sovereignty and enhancing its capabilities in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment.

Wang said this forward-looking partnership is not only reflective of the commitment to enhance mutual security but also underscores the importance of innovation and collaboration in addressing contemporary threats.

He added that the SCSP's discussions in Manila could lead to closer technology-driven partnerships between the US and the Philippines, focused on maintaining regional stability and technological leadership.

Philippine agencies, from defense to trade, have already expressed interest in deepening their engagement with SCSP's initiatives, including joint research, academic programs, and technological infrastructure development.

The SCSP is a nonpartisan, nonprofit initiative launched in 2021 by Eric Schmidt, former chairman and CEO of Google/Alphabet, and led by Ylli Bajraktari, former chief of staff of the US National Security Council and executive director of the US National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence.

It produces major reports on the strategic, technology competition with China and hosts global events that convene leaders from the US and foreign governments and the technology industry to consider the future of geopolitics, technology, democracy and warfare.