UNESCO AI Readiness Assessment Report: Anchoring Ethics in AI
The UNESCO AI Readiness Assessment Report serves as a pivotal document in the journey toward ethical AI governance in the Philippines. This report, finalized on December 8, 2025, in collaboration with the Philippine government, represents a significant milestone in the country’s approach towards responsible AI.
Background and Context
Since September 2024, a series of policy consultation workshops were conducted across the major island groups of the Philippines: Luzon (Manila), Visayas (Cebu), and Mindanao (Davao). These workshops aimed to evaluate the country’s AI landscape across five critical dimensions:
- Legal/Regulatory
- Socio-Cultural
- Economy
- Scientific and Educational
- Technical/Infrastructure
Importance of Ethics in AI Governance
At the core of AI governance is the principle of ethics. It ensures technology remains connected to humanity and allows knowledge to be harnessed as a force for inclusion and sustainable development. The report emphasizes the necessity of establishing an ethical framework within which AI operates, stating that this foundation is crucial for a transformative and inclusive AI ecosystem.
Key Findings
The report identifies critical areas that impact the Philippines’ AI readiness:
Regulatory Framework and AI Governance
There is a pressing need for a dedicated agency to consolidate national AI governance efforts. Existing regulations, such as the Data Privacy Act of 2020 and the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, should be leveraged to bridge regulatory gaps in data protection, cybersecurity, and cross-border data flow.
Socio-Cultural Impact
The report notes that a lack of affordable, reliable, and accessible broadband internet is a significant barrier to enhancing digital competency. Despite these challenges, there has been progress in reducing gender disparities and raising awareness about AI ethics across various sectors. However, public trust in AI technologies is mixed, with concerns about job displacement, explainability, transparency, regulatory compliance, and data misuse.
Economic, Scientific, and Research Insights
The national AI market is projected to reach US$3,487 million by 2030. While there is strong private sector adoption driven by optimistic productivity outlooks, the Philippines must enhance its domestic innovation capacity to sustain growth and compete globally.
Policy Recommendations
To address the findings, the report outlines several key policy recommendations:
Embedding Ethics in AI Policy
Further academic and policy research is essential to contextualize ‘ethics’ within the Philippine framework, rather than relying solely on Western definitions. Ethical standards must be developed through a Filipino lens, informed by historical, sociological, and anthropological perspectives.
Increasing Funding for Capacity Building
The establishment of a National AI Research Fund under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) could provide vital support for local AI research and innovation. Industry associations and academic institutions are encouraged to identify AI use cases that would benefit from increased R&D funding, particularly in critical sectors such as IT-BPO, agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics.
Conclusion
As the Philippines progresses on its AI journey, the UNESCO AI Readiness Assessment Report acts as both a roadmap and a call to action for collaboration across all sectors. The key findings and recommendations provide a comprehensive overview of the current AI landscape and the necessary steps to ensure that AI development benefits all citizens.
This report highlights the immense potential of AI technologies to transform the Philippines’ development trajectory, emphasizing the need for an inclusive approach that ensures no one is left behind.
