Iloilo: The Department of Science and Technology in Western Visayas (DOST 6) will hold a three-day Artificial Intelligence (AI) Festival from August 11 to 13 with the theme 'Coding a Better Future: Responsible AI for Cities and Communities.' The event aims to humanize artificial intelligence and advocate for its ethical and responsible use, especially as AI becomes increasingly integrated into daily life.

According to Philippines News Agency, DOST assistant regional director for technical operations Keithlyn Sarah Bernardino stated in a press conference on Wednesday that the initiative is part of efforts to position not only Iloilo but also Region 6 as one of the AI hubs in the country. DOST 6 Regional Director engineer Rowen Gelonga emphasized the need for stronger support for the development of the country's AI sector. He referenced a recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) study indicating that around 30 percent of current jobs in the Philippines are 'highly exposed to AI,' including the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector -a key industry in Iloilo and the broader Western Visayas region.

Gelonga noted that with the necessary capability to use AI, it could help boost productivity rather than displacing people. He also highlighted the importance of ethical use of AI in the creative sector, a significant contributor to the economy, asserting that they do not want it to be undermined by irresponsible AI use. The festival will feature four sub-events, including the AI Hackathon, a technical conference, SineAI, and exhibits.

The Unified Movement in Western Visayas to Accelerate Startup and Spinoff Development (UMWAD) will partner with DOST in the hackathon, while the Regional Association of State Universities will lead the technical conference. The technical conference will focus on emerging trends, breakthroughs, and applications, while the hackathon will showcase nationwide student innovations. Exhibits, spearheaded by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Iloilo chapter, will display cutting-edge AI initiatives and foster collaboration between industry, academe, and government. Sine AI will explore AI's role in the creative industry through a film-making class in partnership with the West Visayas State University College of Information and Communications Technology.