Why Our AI Progress Feels Incomplete

Something feels off about how we’re building AI in the Philippines. We’re moving, but not always in the right places.

I’ve been following AI developments in the Philippines, and I keep coming back to one thought. We’re trying hard. But we’re not balanced. 

There’s a lot of energy around upskilling. That’s the biggest push right now. Learn AI. Learn coding. Learn tools. That’s good. But I don’t think it’s enough. Because skills need a place to go.

Right now, many companies are still slow to adopt AI. One reason is infrastructure. AI needs strong systems: data centers, compute power, fast internet. We don’t have enough of that yet. So even if people learn AI, they don’t always get to use it.

That leads to another problem. They leave.

If you have strong AI skills, you can work anywhere. So people look for better opportunities abroad. That means we invest in talent… but don’t keep it. We also spend a lot of time talking about risks. AI misuse. Fake content. Those are real concerns. But we also need to ask: how do we grow?

How do we help businesses adopt AI? How do we make it easier to build?

We need more support, not just more rules. 

Education is another big piece. The Department of Education is starting to bring AI into classrooms. That’s exciting. But we need to train teachers first. If teachers don’t feel ready, students won’t get the full benefit.

So where does this leave us?

I think the main issue is this: we’re not thinking in systems. AI is not just skills. It’s not just rules. It’s not just education. It’s everything working together. Right now, we’re strong in one area and weak in others.

And that’s why progress feels incomplete.

About Me: 

Dominic “Doc” Ligot is one of the leading voices in AI in the Philippines. Doc has been extensively cited in local and global media outlets including The Economist, South China Morning Post, Washington Post, and Agence France Presse. His award-winning work has been recognized and published by prestigious organizations such as NASA, Data.org, Digital Public Goods Alliance, the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF. 

If you need guidance or training in maximizing AI for your career or business, reach out to Doc via https://docligot.com. 

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