IN THE coming years, 2022 to 2025 by some estimates, we can expect AI (artificial intelligence) algorithms to be more widespread. It already exists to some extent in 2021, but we can expect more to come in the coming years.
Social media, for example, widely uses algorithms, and with the introduction of new technology, we may see other applications.
Likewise, drones, if they become sufficiently cheap enough for widespread use, can be controlled via AI, as can certain industrial and financial tasks.
Now how does this affect Filipinos, and Ilonggos, in particular? After all, Iloilo mostly has small and micro level businesses.
AI algorithms can affect them the same ways that phones and social media are supported by them. Any business that interacts with the internet, telecommunication and export markets will be affected by AI. Micro and small businesses will also be affected through money transfers, in processing receipts and even banking.
Now, whether that is a good or bad thing is up to you. There are certainly a lot of people who don’t like the idea of AI because they value their privacy more than their convenience, but that’s the world we’re living in. Where I am sceptical in is the speed and extent of these applications.
Overall, I think AI will affect every part of the world that is connected to the internet, but outside major cities, those will be quite shallow.
In our case, it will be a convenient technology to have but not necessary. I have met a lot of Ilonggo small business owners, and I think only those who export their products outside of Iloilo will truly need AI in their activities.
Perhaps this will change in the next decade or so, but for now, that’s how I see AI’s effects on our city./PN
