Tech can avert job displacement

ATENEANS Krystel Iris De Castro and Nicole Dolfo proudly display the Philippine tri-color.

Krystel Iris de Castro and Nicole Dolfo of Ateneo de Manila University represented the Philippines in the 2019 ASEAN Data Science Explorers, with their project focusing on automation and job displacement in the country.

Wage workers should adjust with new technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and Robotics to guard against talent inadequacy and stagnancy, said the duo in their presentation.

They also cited the need to improve market revenue, job efficiency, and productivity for the country’s economic growth.

“AI-enabled technologies make it more possible to go about our daily tasks, such as checking e-mails, booking cars for transportation, and the like, by exerting little effort,” they said.

“Despite these capabilities, AI and other disruptive technologies, such as IoT and virtual reality, put human workforce in ASEAN at risk of unemployment, especially with the rapid digitalization.”

To address the issue, they proposed improving the educational systems with virtual access and bridging programs, providing mid-career training for successful job transition and building an integrated ASEAN labor market.

This year, Ha Vu and Trung Vu (Team AWM) from RMIT University in Vietnam bagged the top spot with their project solution focusing on ethnic minorities as potential sources for economic development in ASEAN.