NEDA: Nat’l Innovation Council OKs creation of AI think tank

The National Innovation Council (NIC) has approved the creation of a think tank that would be focusing on the study of uses of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the country’s economic future, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said Friday.

In a statement, the NEDA said the NIC — a 25 member interagency body with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as the chairperson and NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan as the vice-chairperson — approved during its eighth council meeting, last March 26, the establishment of an AI think tank.

The technical group, which would be composed of experts and leaders from industry, academe, and government, would be conducting a comprehensive study on the capabilities, current ecosystem, and future trajectories of AI.

The thin tank would also be providing insights into the country’s AI preparedness and adoption.

These insights will subsequently inform the Philippine government's formulation of AI policies, according to the NEDA.

Citing a study conducted by Google & Access Partnership in 2023, the NEDA said the adoption of AI, along with the development of essential digital skills, could generate P2.8 trillion in annual economic value by 2030.

The socioeconomic planning agency said the projected value from AI’s  underscores its potential to drive economic transformation, boost productivity, and enhance the Philippines’ global competitiveness.

“If we want to harness the potential of AI, we urgently need a national approach and policy that will ensure alignment and collaboration between public and private sector efforts. More importantly, we must ensure that the Filipino workforce is adequately prepared to upskill and transition efficiently to these AI developments. To achieve this, we need to understand precisely what we are dealing with and how AI developments can be contextualized within the Philippine setting,” said Balisacan.

The NIC has designated the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as the lead agency for the AI think tank.

The DOST will form and spearhead a technical working group tasked with conducting studies on the country’s preparedness for the far-reaching impacts of AI, particularly as the country navigates the rapidly evolving global landscape and addresses AI-related developments in the coming months. — BAP, GMA Integrated News