A House technical working group on Monday advanced a proposed law that seeks to promote artificial intelligence (AI) development while regulating only high-risk applications.

The proposed Artificial Intelligence Development and Regulation Act would expand access to computing resources for researchers, encourage AI adoption among schools and small businesses, and impose stricter oversight only on AI systems used in areas such as lending, employment and healthcare.

"We studied Brussels, Washington and Beijing, but we are writing a Filipino law, one that works for the farmer, the teacher and the small business owner in the province," Negros Occidental Rep. Javier Miguel "Javi" Benitez, chair of the House technical working group under the Committee on Information and Communications Technology, said.

About 60 stakeholders from government, industry, academia and civil society participated in Monday's deliberations.

The draft bill exempts most AI systems from government registration, requiring oversight only for high-risk applications. It also creates a regulatory sandbox where startups can develop and test AI technologies under government supervision.

The measure further prohibits employers from dismissing workers solely based on an AI system's decision and requires a 60-day notice and retraining for employees displaced by AI.

Stakeholders have until 20 July to submit proposed amendments before the panel reconvenes later this month.