President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has emphasized the importance of regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) amid the proliferation of fake news and the surge in cyberbullying cases.
In the sixth episode of his podcast aired Tuesday, Marcos lamented that AI technology is being used to harm others and put them in a bad light.
Marcos also admitted that “legislation is always years behind technology,” acknowledging that most of the lawmakers are not tech-savvy enough to understand emerging technologies such as AI.
He said he even drafted a list of ways AI can be utilized to improve key sectors such as infrastructure, education and renewables, but noted that the list keeps getting longer the more he studies it.
“The longer you want, the more time you spend on it, the longer that list will become because it’s going to touch on everything. And it’s important for us to understand it. That’s why it’s not so easy,” Marcos said.
“So, what will you legislate? What’s the best way for the Philippines to take full advantage to maximize the use of AI? The other side of the equation is: What are the things na kailangang bantayan natin? Ayan na ‘yung mga (that we need to watch out for? These include) fake news, misinformation, disinformation etc.,” he added.
During the podcast, Marcos was briefed about the other forms of cyberbullying, including cancel culture which takes a toll on people’s mental health.
Marcos stressed the need to ensure that netizens do not revolve their lives around social media.
“We are in the Philippines. We are one of the greatest users of the internet. It’s just my own experience,” he said. “That’s the only conclusion I can arrive at. Iyan ang buong buhay ng kung sinuman iyan. Basta’s ‘yung buong buhay niya is ‘yung online (They spend most of their time online). So, what goes online, that’s the only thing that’s important — not what goes on in real life.” (PNA)
