ILOILO CITY — The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) sought to ease workers’ fears over the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace.

During the first day of the AI Fest in Iloilo City, DoST Secretary Renato Solidum said the agency is pushing for a “human-centered” and inclusive AI.

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

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

AI now provides fast computing power, better user experience, and improved customer service in the BPO sector.

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

“AI will only help people. Even in the creative industry, like film, it’s still their ideas, but there are scenes powered by AI. Their ideas are still original,” Solidum said.

He explained 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 said.

By the end of the Marcos administration in 2028, Solidum said about one million workers will have been upskilled through AI.

AI should not be feared

The DoST chief reiterated that AI should not be feared as “it revolutionizes the way we do things.”

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

He added that among their targets is to push for the ethical and responsible use of AI among the youth and the 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 industry leaders, both local and international.