'I feel like I dug my own grave': The workers caught in the AI transition
Summary
Many workers in the Philippines’ outsourcing industry are losing jobs as companies start using artificial intelligence (AI) to do their work. The outsourcing sector, which employs about 1.9 million people and forms a large part of the country’s economy, faces risks from AI automation that could change or replace many roles.Key Facts
- The Philippines is a global hub for call centers and outsourcing services like writing, accounting, and software development.
- The outsourcing industry employs around 1.9 million Filipinos and generates about $40 billion annually, making up roughly 10% of the Philippine economy.
- AI is being introduced in this sector to automate tasks, with many companies already testing AI tools.
- Some workers helped train AI systems before they were laid off as their jobs became automated.
- The International Labour Organization estimates that over one in four Filipino workers have jobs vulnerable to AI automation, the highest rate in Southeast Asia.
- Industry leaders say most workers affected by AI have been reassigned to other roles within their companies.
- The use of AI is accelerating job automation in the outsourcing sector, but investment and hiring decisions are also influenced by other factors beyond AI.
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