The British Embassy hosted a dynamic and informative roundtable last 17 October, bringing together a diverse gathering of AI leaders in business, academe, and government, including the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

The roundtable provided an opportunity for key stakeholders to discuss the opportunities and risks in the Philippines brought about by AI. It was recognized that AI has the power to bring transformative solutions to global issues, but also poses risks that need careful consideration. Furthermore, international cooperation and knowledge exchange play a significant role in the development of responsible AI policies and technologies.

Ambassador Laure Beaufils expressed the UK’s intent to support AI initiatives in the Philippines, saying: 

The Philippines has taken a pioneering role by being among the first 50 countries globally that have established a national strategy and policy for Artificial Intelligence. The UK is third in the 2022 Government AI Readiness Index. Together, we want to capitalise on the opportunities the AI presents for job creation, and social and economic development. And we also want to invest in AI safety to minimize risks. We look forward to working closely together on AI policies and standards and the creation of an inter-agency taskforce.

The meeting also included discussions about global dialogues and cooperation regarding safety and security in frontier AI and the upcoming AI Safety Summit (UK AISS) hosted by the UK on 1 and 2 November. AISS is the world’s first summit on artificial intelligence safety, bringing together global leaders on AI to deliberate on strategies for addressing potential misuse and loss of control risks associated with AI. The Global AI Safety Network will also be launched during this Summit. Comprised of a diverse group of international AI experts, the network will be publishing a comprehensive “State of the science” report to help build international consensus on the risks and capabilities of frontier AI.   

The roundtable meeting was an important step in fostering international collaboration and knowledge sharing in the lead-up to the UK’s AI Summit. The importance of AI training and upskilling, data literacy and transparency, increased engagement with stakeholders and knowledge exchange were identified during the meeting as key activities for effective development and implementation of AI policies and are part of the objectives set for the Philippines’ participation in the UK AISS. 

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will represent the Philippines in this landmark event, highlighting the country’s commitment in shaping international and national AI policies. 

Speaking on behalf of DICT, Undersecretary Jocelle Batapa-Sigue of DICT said:

We are thankful for the inclusion of the Philippines in this ministerial level discussion as we highlight the importance of harnessing AI’s enormous potential for common good while effectively guarding against its misuse. Through Secretary Ivan John Uy’s participation, the DICT is eager to learn and collaborate with the global community in developing coherent and clear standards and metrics, undertaking research and sharing knowledge and best practices, under the spirit of international collaboration.