UP leads AI Horizons PH 2025: Building a national roadmap for ethical AI and disaster resilience
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The University of the Philippines (UP) hosted AI Horizons PH 2025 on 16 to 17 October at UP Cebu, convening more than 300 leaders and innovators from academia, industry, government, and civil society to discuss the Philippines’ path toward an inclusive and secure AI future.
Building on the success of its inaugural 2024 conference, this year’s edition expanded its focus to four key sectors: cybersecurity and national security; business process outsourcing (BPO) and creative industries; disaster risk reduction; and social good and inclusive growth.
As the global AI market accelerates toward $4.38 trillion, the event aimed to contribute to the national AI strategy and position the Philippines as a principled leader in the digital revolution.
The two-day conference featured more than 20 technical presentations, real-world case studies, and live demonstrations of AI applications tailored for local challenges — from disaster response and cybersecurity to education, healthcare, and creative industries. Participants included government policymakers, major technology firms, BPO executives, and representatives from international organizations such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Korea Legislation Research Institute (KLRI).
The conference gained heightened urgency following two devastating earthquakes in Cebu and Davao that claimed 75 lives and displaced more than 600,000 residents. These incidents highlighted the relevance of AI technologies presented at the conference — systems capable of improving earthquake prediction, early warning, and emergency coordination.
“The task before us is to ensure that our technologies serve the public good, that innovation and ethics grow hand in hand, and that the Philippines stands not as a passive observer of the AI revolution, but as a thoughtful and principled leader in it,” said Professor Prospero C. Naval Jr., AI Horizons PH ’25 Program Committee Chair.
Sessions on cybersecurity and national security examined the growing global inequality in AI capability. A UNCTAD 2025 report revealed that a small cluster of corporations from the US and China control 40 percent of global AI R&D, posing risks of dependence for developing nations.
“At a time when AI nationalism is rising and nations are racing for technological supremacy, we assert our sovereignty by building not only powerful systems but just and inclusive ones that uplift generations of Filipinos,” said UP President Angelo Jimenez.
Professor Gisela Concepcion echoed this call, warning that without investments in AI infrastructure and data governance, the Philippines “risks being left behind — not just technologically, but economically.”
The Philippine BPO sector, which employs 1.7 million Filipinos and contributes $31.6 billion annually, faces pressure from automation. The conference explored how AI could transform the industry from routine outsourcing to intelligent process management, predictive analytics, and AI-enhanced customer solutions.
“The recent earthquakes revealed vulnerabilities in our digital infrastructure that supports 200,000 BPO workers in Cebu alone,” said Dr. Joel Joseph S. Marciano, UP Vice President for Research and Innovation.
The session, “How Artificial Intelligence Will Transform the IT-BPM Industry,” led by Salvador Villasis of the Cebu IT-BPM Organization, highlighted AI’s potential to fortify infrastructure and drive digital resilience.
Discussions also extended to creative sectors, with Atty. Jocel Isidro Dilag emphasizing how artisans and designers must adapt to automation trends while retaining human creativity.
The Social Good and Disaster Preparedness track showcased how AI could serve communities during both crises and daily life. Experts presented geospatial AI systems for disaster mapping, AI-powered healthcare tools, and frameworks for responsible AI integration in schools and local governments.
Dr. Johanna Cañal of the UP Philippine General Hospital discussed AI applications in radiology, noting, “At PGH, we do about 35,000 CT scans a year — that’s so much data. Can you imagine the potential research we can do?”
Sessions also highlighted AI in radiology, industrial robotics, and AI investment trends across Asia, providing context on how nations align technological progress with inclusive growth.
UP Cebu Chancellor Atty. Leo Malagar underscored AI’s role as a tool for nation-building:
“AI must be our new instrument of nation-building, a tool not of domination but of liberation. We must build AI systems that serve the poor and not replace them.”
The conference concluded with key policy deliverables, including:
A National AI Cybersecurity Strategy policy brief for government agencies
An AI Integration Roadmap for the BPO industry
A Philippine Priorities for AI Social Good Framework for NGOs and development partners
“We need to treat our data as the national asset it is, not the resource to be extracted by others. And we need to train our people not merely to use AI but to create it,” President Jimenez said in his closing remarks.
