President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized the need for the Philippine government to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI), but only after conducting a thorough study and gaining a full understanding of its capabilities, suitability, and potential impact.
Speaking to the media following the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, President Marcos acknowledged that the specific applications of AI across various government departments are “not yet clear.”
“It’s not yet clear. What AI do you use for government? And I’m sure each department has a slightly different AI,” the President stated at the Signiel Busan Hotel.
President Marcos emphasized the importance of collaborating with both Filipino and international AI experts and think tanks. This global consultation is essential to determine:
What AI is capable of and where it excels.
How to utilize it effectively to benefit the Philippines, ASEAN, and other nations.
The direction of AI development and potential risks require careful monitoring.
“We have to talk to the experts. We have… not only Filipinos, we have to talk to everybody, the whole world,” President Marcos said.
Despite advocating for a cautious approach, the President underscored the fast-paced evolution of technology and the imperative to adopt AI “as much as we can, as soon as we can” to avoid missing critical opportunities.
The importance of AI was highlighted during the recent APEC 2025 Summit in South Korea, where member economies discussed pathways to shared prosperity under the theme, “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper.” The President noted that AI’s capabilities and benefits were a significant takeaway from the discussions held at the Hwabaek International Convention Center (HICO) from October 31 to November 1.
The government is committed to leveraging expert input to develop a strategy that ensures AI adoption is both beneficial and safe for the nation.
