DTI ordered to introduce AI to MSMEs

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to harness and upscale the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by introducing them to artificial intelligence (AI)- powered system to comply with the changing technological demands.

In a sectoral meeting on Tuesday at the Malacañan Palace, President Marcos said the MSMEs need to be fully equipped with modern technology to keep up with both physical and online demands amid technological advancements.

“We are not teaching them to be engineers, AI engineers. We’re not teaching them to be blockchain engineers. We’re teaching them how to use the system that we have provided. That, I think, we have to be clear about that,” President Marcos said.

“Don’t teach the theory that goes on behind it, but just teach what it is that they need to use the AI. That’s the whole point of AI, you just talk, that’s where we want to get them to,” he added.

The President also said the government’s efforts to introduce MSMEs to AI system aims to ensure the ease of doing business, and to make it “as easy as possible, as simple as possible” for them.

In 2022, MSMEs comprised 99.59 percent of total establishments in the Philippines. They contributed 65.10 percent to total employment, highlighting their huge impact on jobs and livelihood in the country.