Thousands of workers in the Philippines are losing their jobs as companies increasingly adopt artificial intelligence to automate tasks. One former content writer, who wished to remain anonymous, said she was made redundant after her company started using AI-generated material that she and her colleagues were asked to edit.
The woman, who we’ll call Lisa, had worked in the industry for 15 years and was just one month away from having her position become permanent. She says her skills were used to train the AI on the company’s writing style, and now she feels like she “dug her own grave” by helping to create the technology that replaced her.
Artificial Intelligence Transition
The Philippines has a booming outsourcing industry, with over 1.9 million people employed in the sector, generating $40 billion in revenues every year. However, experts say the industry is disproportionately vulnerable to the impact of AI, with an estimated 12.7 million Filipinos employed in occupations exposed to generative AI.
The International Labour Organization expects many roles to change rather than disappear, but the types of service jobs that people do in the Philippines leave it particularly at risk. Jack Madrid, president of the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines, admits that AI is being adopted by the sector, with more than two-thirds of members already running AI pilots.
Another former content writer, who we’ll call Mary, says her employer encouraged the use of AI as a productivity tool, but it created additional responsibilities for her and her colleagues. “We had to edit more, fact-check more because the data AI produced was inaccurate,” she says.
Future of Work
Companies are under pressure to implement AI to reduce costs and increase productivity, experts say. The adoption of AI is expected to continue, with many workers facing the risk of redundancy. The Philippine government and industry leaders are urging workers to develop new skills to remain competitive in the job market.
The impact of AI on the workforce is a global issue, and the Philippines is just one of many countries facing the challenge. As AI continues to automate tasks, it’s clear that the future of work will be shaped by this technology, and workers, companies, and governments must adapt to remain competitive.
