Artificial intelligence and the internet of things (IoT) have the potential to transform the Philippine economy, according to an executive of US software company Couchbase.
Genie Yuan, regional vice president for Asia Pacific at Couchbase, said agriculture and related sectors could see up to 6 million jobs automated, while 61 percent of manufacturing jobs in the Philippines are ripe for automation. This, he said, could potentially contribute $92 billion to the country’s gross domestic product by 2030.
“However, the real power of AI and machine learning lies in the data,” Yuan said.
He advised companies to build a strong foundation with their data and ensure the right infrastructure is in place before jumping on the AI and IoT bandwagon.
“The Philippines is on the right track, but a unified data platform is essential for simplified management, improved accessibility and better analytics,” Yuan said. “Breaking down barriers between different data types and sources will provide a holistic view of operations, customer behavior and market opportunities. This comprehensive insight is critical for informed decisions that drive growth, efficiency and innovation.”
Beyond convenience and improved business productivity, Yuan said IoT and AI can have a life-changing impact for Filipinos living in rural areas and urban slums. Due to unreliable electricity and poor internet connectivity, clinics in these areas often rely on paper records stored remotely, making them unavailable for future care.
“Our partnership with a mobile healthcare provider demonstrates how IoT improves access to treatment in rural areas,” Yuan said. “Remote diagnosis through IoT reduces the need for long and expensive trips to urban centers, while allowing medical professionals in rural areas to collaborate with colleagues in better-resourced facilities.”
He said while use cases for AI and IoT in the Philippines are abundant, the nation needs to prioritize infrastructure that supports data movement between IoT devices, cloud systems and AI systems.
“Ensuring fast and always-available IoT applications in the public sector is crucial, especially where seconds count and downtime can disrupt essential services like healthcare,” Yuan said.
“The increasing power of mobile devices and consumer preference for mobile experiences will drive new innovations in IoT and edge computing,” he said. “While heavy-duty AI workloads can run efficiently at scale in the cloud with Couchbase, running smaller models at the edge on mobile devices might be preferable for adaptive mobile applications.”
Yuan said it’s essential to ensure automatic data syncing between devices and the cloud while providing high flexibility for developers and operations teams.