Japanese AI technology tapped for PH disaster response

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) tapped the service of a Japanese firm to help the Philippine government utilize artificial intelligence (AI) in collecting and communicating information during disasters.

JICA partnered with Spectee Inc. and the Department of Information and Communications Technology to upgrade the country’s disaster response through cloud-based technology called Spectee Pro.

“While already a proven success, having [been] used very broadly by the government, private companies, [and] media organizations in Japan, JICA and Spectee intend to create a Spectee Pro Philippine version that is specially designed for the Philippine setting, with the assistance of the DICT,” JICA said in a statement.

Spectee Pro is an AI-powered, real-time Crisis Management Information System that uses AI image and language analysis to extract useful data points from social networking sites.

“We strongly believe that our AI Disaster & Crisis Management Solution ‘Spectee Pro’ can contribute to strengthening the resilience of the Philippines facing increasing natural disasters caused by climate change. We will do our best to proceed [with] this project successfully for the bright future of the Philippines and Japan,” said Spectee chief operating officer Negoro Satoshi.

On September 24, JICA, DICT, and Spectee officials signed a collaboration document to distribute Spectee Pro to government offices across the country.

Spectee Pro will be provided for free for a limited time to some 80 government agencies and localities, including Metro Manila; Legazpi City, Albay; Tagbiliran, Bohol; Tacloban City, Leyte; Cebu City; and Davao City.

“Apart from trainings and simulations, there will be a constant feedback mechanism, taking into account actual conditions on the ground, to ensure that any improvements made to the system are relevant and useful to the end users,” said JICA.

According to the World Risk Report 2024 released in September, the Philippines, for the third straight year, registered the highest world risk index among the 193 countries on the list.

The Philippines scored 58.07 in the lack of coping capabilities and 56.10 in the lack of adaptive capabilities.  — VBL, GMA Integrated News