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Hello reader,
Have you incorporated genAI into your daily work processes? I use it for a few tasks, but it’s really just a way to make things more efficient – it can hardly do everything in my inbox on its own.
However, some believe that AI can largely take over certain jobs, such as the role of call center agents, as today’s premium article discusses. The Philippines’ business process outsourcing (BPO) sector is a core part of the country’s economy, and it could see significant disruption – thanks to AI – in the coming years.
Read on to get the full lay of the land.
Today we look at:
- GenAI and its impact on Philippine jobs
- An Indian medical supplies startup’s series A round
- Other newsy highlights such as South Koreans’ frequent use of genAI services and record money flowing into Taiwan
Premium summary
The AI discourse continues
Image credit: Timmy Loen
The notion that AI could make humans redundant has been a point of discussion since the earliest ideas of AI appeared in science fiction books and film. As genAI continues to pervade the mainstream, we’ll have many more stories like today’s premium piece, examining the tech’s impact on the way we work, live, and play.
- Friction point: In the Philippines’ BPO sector, genAI offers potential for increased productivity and cost efficiency by automating routine tasks. However, it has already led to job losses (approximately 8% as of October 2024), which has concerned local workers.
- Not like-for-like: Still, genAI is not solely seen as a threat to jobs. Companies are using it to improve efficiency in various ways, including automating customer service responses, streamlining quality assurance processes, reducing training time, and enhancing data analysis for tasks like loan processing.
- Gotta level up: The BPO industry and the Philippine government are focusing on upskilling workers to adapt to the changing landscape. Initiatives include creating AI councils, developing new industry road maps, and partnering with universities to offer training in soft skills and AI-related technologies.
Read more: As Philippine call centers weigh genAI, jobs hang in the balance
Startup spotlight
Money for medical
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