The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) sought to ease concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on employment, assuring workers that AI will not replace human jobs.

Speaking on the first day of the AI Fest in Iloilo City, DOST Secretary Renato Solidum said the agency is promoting a “human-centered” and inclusive approach to AI.

"No one will lose work because of AI. The machine will only do the work, maybe only the repetitive and redundant work," Solidum told reporters in a chance interview.

“It’s still the workers who will facilitate the AI. For example, in the BPO industry, we’ve been told that they are now earning more with the help of AI,” he added.

AI, he noted, now provides faster computing power and improves both user and customer experiences in the BPO sector.

Since 2017, the DOST has been upskilling workers through AI, particularly in research and analytics.

"AI will only help the people. Even in the creative industry, [let's say, film], it's still their ideas, but there are scenes powered by AI. Their ideas are still original," Solidum said.

He emphasized that one of the DOST’s goals is to use science and technology for the economic and social benefit of Filipinos.

"We aim to make the quality of their lives better and to develop our country," he added.

By the end of the Marcos administration in 2028, Solidum said the agency targets to have upskilled around one million workers through AI.

The DOST chief also reiterated that AI should be viewed as an opportunity, not a threat.

"We should not be scared of it, we should see it as a new tool. We need people to understand that there are a lot of things AI can be helpful for," Solidum said.

Among the agency’s goals is to encourage the ethical and responsible use of AI, especially among the youth and private sector.

The 2025 AI Fest is a nationwide initiative of DOST Western Visayas to strengthen AI development in the country. The three-day event brings together students, professionals, academics, LGUs, startups, and local and international industry leaders.