The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and Silicon Valley-based venture capital provider Plug and Play teamed up to help the Philippines’ business process outsourcing (BPO) industry become resilient against the threat of artificial intelligence (AI).
DICT and Plug and Play signed the memorandum of agreement last November 23, 2023, to launch the Horizon Philippines Program.
Plug and Play co-founder Jojo Flores explained that the program is a virtual platform that allows startups and investors to collaborate on a new product. One such product is the adoption and integration of AI into the IT-BPO industry.
- Best BPO, IT companies in the Philippines
- 10 jobs at risk of getting replaced by AI, according to Google Bard
Protecting the BPO sector against the threat of AI really crucial, considering that it contributes 25% to the gross domestic product (GDP), improves local employment, and, in general, helps in overall economic expansion.
Flores said that instead of waiting for IP-based products to come from foreign countries, the program will support Filipino talents from startups so they can make one locally, market it locally, and then eventually offer it to the global market, which will then seal the future of the service economy.
For funding, Flores said that will rely on the resources coming from the government and from international investors.
Meanwhile, the DICT secretary said that, while the government has no direct financial obligation to the start-up industry, they do provide the required support to build their ecosystem.
Source: SunStar