President Marcos directed concerned agencies to lead the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), citing the need to adapt to new technologies.
In a sectoral meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday, the Chief Executive emphasized the imperative for MSMEs to embrace modern technology to meet the evolving demands of both physical and online markets amid technological advancements.
“We are not teaching them to be engineers, AI engineers. We’re not teaching them to be blockchain engineers. We’re teaching them how to use the system that we have provided. That, I think, we have to be clear about that,” President Marcos said.
“Don’t teach the theory that goes on behind it, but just teach what it is that they need to use the AI. That’s the whole point of AI, you just talk, that’s where we want to get them to,” he added.
President Marcos stressed that the government’s initiative to acquaint MSMEs with AI systems is geared towards enhancing the ease of doing business, striving to make it “as easy as possible, as simple as possible” for them.
In 2022, MSMEs constituted 99.59 percent of total establishments in the Philippines, contributing 65.10 percent to total employment. This underscored their significant role in job creation and livelihood enhancement in the country.
The move comes amidst a global push towards digital transformation, with AI emerging as a pivotal tool for businesses seeking to streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and remain competitive in an increasingly digital marketplace.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline Marcos enjoins government agencies to foster AI-powered MSMEs