Introduction
Historical Note
The National AI Strategy Roadmap 2.0 (NAISR 2.0) was officially launched in July 2024 by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as part of the Philippine government’s initiative to advance artificial intelligence capabilities and governance in the country. This document represents the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and civil society who contributed to its development.
This roadmap builds upon the foundation of the first National AI Strategy Roadmap launched in May 2021, and reflects the Philippines’ continued commitment to responsible AI development and adoption.
The concepts, frameworks, and strategic directions outlined in this document were presented during the July 2024 launch and have been referenced by national and international organizations for monitoring AI development in the Philippines, including initiatives such as the establishment of the Center for AI Research.
This live document serves as a reference for stakeholders engaged in AI development and policy in the Philippines and the region.
The Philippine Innovation Act
Section titled “The Philippine Innovation Act”Innovation drives the development of new products, services, and business models that enhance trade, attract investments, increase economic output, and create quality employment—ultimately fueling economic transformation. Emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), play a crucial role in powering innovation.
In 2019, the Philippines enacted the Philippine Innovation Act (RA 11293) to fund and promote Research and Development (R&D) efforts to drive national development. The Act strengthens industries’ capabilities to innovate and compete in the global marketplace, fostering sustainable and inclusive growth. It highlights the essential role of emerging technologies in driving national competitiveness and promoting equitable development.
Among these technologies, AI is recognized as a key driver of industry transformation, significantly impacting businesses, societies, and economies. To effectively harness the potential of AI, the Philippines has laid the groundwork for integrating AI into its national development framework with the goal of becoming a Center of Excellence in AI R&D.
In 2021, the Philippines launched its National AI Strategy Roadmap (NAISR). It laid the foundation for the country’s AI development prior to the rise of Generative AI (GenAI) systems. The rapid advancements in AI since then have been rapidly reshaping the global economy, with significant implications for the country. As industries worldwide transition to Industry 4.0, characterized by automation, data exchange, and cyber-physical systems, to Industry 5.0, which emphasizes human-centric solutions and sustainability, the role of AI becomes even more critical.
Building upon the foundation laid in 2021, the NAISR 2.0 integrates recent technological advancements, including GenAI, recalibrates the strategic actions considering recent developments, and addresses emerging themes such as ethics and governance.
In line with the country’s Science, Technology, and Innovation-driven Industrial Strategy, the NAISR 2.0 continues its strategic mission to effectively make use of AI’s transformative capabilities across various sectors, emphasizing innovation, ethical considerations, and robust governance frameworks. By harnessing AI’s potential, the roadmap seeks to drive economic growth, enhance national competitiveness, and improve the quality of life for Filipinos through actionable initiatives that position the country at the forefront of AI innovation.
Artificial Intelligence
Section titled “Artificial Intelligence”Artificial Intelligence or AI refers to the capability of machines to simulate human thinking and the ability to perform tasks by learning from data. AI can be divided into two types: Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI). AGI, still hypothetical, would enable machines to understand, learn, and perform any intellectual task a human can do. ANI, in contrast, specializes in specific or singular tasks, often outperforming humans in routine or repetitive jobs. Examples of ANI include medical diagnostics, predictive maintenance in factories, spam email classification, and chess playing.
AI encompasses various technologies, including traditional AI methods, natural language processing (NLP), and computer vision (CV). Traditional AI focuses on machine learning algorithms that can analyze data, recognize patterns, and make decisions. NLP enables machines to understand and interact with human language, leading to applications such as language translation, chatbots, and intelligent autonomous agentic systems. CV allows machines to interpret and process visual information from the world, with applications in facial recognition, autonomous vehicles, and medical imaging.