Have you ever wondered whether artificial intelligence will truly benefit everyone, or just create more advantages for those already in power? This question took center stage at the Philippines’ most significant AI gathering, where leaders from across sectors came together to chart a more inclusive path forward.
AI Must Serve the Many, Not Merely the Few: A Call for Inclusive Innovation
At the second annual AI Horizons PH conference, University of the Philippines President Angelo Jimenez delivered a powerful message that resonated far beyond the academic walls. Speaking to over 300 leaders from academe, industry, government, and civil society, Jimenez emphasized that artificial intelligence innovations must serve the many, not merely the few, as the nation grapples with AI’s transformative impact across various sectors.
“What we need is something rare: will,” Jimenez declared as he opened the conference. “Political will to invest in digital infrastructure. Educational will to transform curricula… Economic will to invest in homegrown innovation, and collective will to ensure that AI serves the many, not merely the few.”
Strategic Location Amplifies Industry Engagement
The October 16-17 conference held at UP Cebu was strategically positioned to maximize real-world impact. As a result of choosing Cebu City—the Philippines’ leading business process outsourcing hub outside Metro Manila—organizers facilitated direct engagement with industries and communities most affected by AI transformation.
Meanwhile, UP Cebu Chancellor Leo Malagar reinforced this inclusive vision, warning that innovation cannot be sustainable “if it forgets the people for whom it was made.” He added pointedly, “No algorithm is ethical if it serves only the powerful.”
Four Critical Sectors Under the AI Microscope
Over two intensive days, participants examined artificial intelligence applications across four vital areas through dedicated plenary sessions: BPO and creative industry transformation, public governance and disaster risk reduction management, social good and inclusive growth, and cybersecurity and national security.
Building Sovereign AI Capabilities
Michelle Alarcon, president of the Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines, opened the BPO session with her keynote on the Philippine Skills Framework for Analytics and AI. For example, she underscored the critical importance of developing local talent to build a future-ready national AI workforce.
“We need to build this very strong ecosystem to achieve our own ambitions of having our own sovereign AI,” Alarcon emphasized. “No one else will build this for us except us.”
Technology in Governance: Values Over Efficiency
The session on public governance proved especially timely, given recent challenges including the devastating 6.9-magnitude earthquake that hit Cebu on September 30 and ongoing corruption issues affecting the country’s flood control projects.
Prof. Czar Jakiri Sarmiento, deputy executive director of the UP National Engineering Center, delivered a compelling keynote arguing that technology in governance “must amplify human values, not efficiency for its own sake, but fairness, accountability and empathy in public service.”
Medical AI: Bridging Disciplines for Better Outcomes
Dr. Johanna Patricia Cañal of UP Philippine General Hospital opened the social good session by highlighting transformative developments in radiology and medical imaging through AI. As a result, these advances are creating unprecedented opportunities for collaboration between medical experts and computer scientists.
“Can you imagine the number of data points we have and all the potential research we can do? My job is to talk to the computer scientist, to talk to the developer and tell the developer what we need, because that’s precisely where AI can come in and that is where AI will be most useful.”
Regional Development and Democratic Access
The conference concluded with cybersecurity and national security discussions. Rowen Gelonga, regional director of the Department of Science and Technology Region VI, delivered the final keynote on the AI Development Action Plan of Western Visayas, emphasizing the need for stronger regional participation in AI research and development initiatives.
Gelonga called for democratization and better resource allocation across regions, stating, “We really have to prioritize [the] development of AI solutions to address the requirements of the most disadvantaged sectors.”
The Path Forward: Collective Action for Inclusive AI
The AI Horizons PH conference revealed a clear consensus among Filipino leaders: technology’s true measure isn’t just its capability, but its accessibility and impact on society’s most vulnerable members. Furthermore, the emphasis on building sovereign AI capabilities while maintaining ethical foundations reflects a mature approach to technological adoption.
As artificial intelligence continues reshaping industries from healthcare to governance, the Philippines stands at a crossroads. The choice between AI that concentrates power and AI that democratizes opportunity will define not just the nation’s technological future, but its social fabric. These ethical AI principles championed at the conference offer a roadmap for ensuring technology truly serves everyone, not just the privileged few.
