Kevin Tan advances Philippines priorities on AI, sustainability

MANILA, Philippines — Tycoon Kevin Tan, president and CEO of conglomerate Alliance Global Group Inc., has advanced the Philippine priorities on artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainability during the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC)’s meeting in Thailand.

The ABAC has called for stronger AI governance and closer regional cooperation to better protect people across Asia-Pacific, including Filipinos, from online scams, cyber fraud and the misuse of emerging digital technologies.

The recommendations include greater alignment in modern data legislation and common digital standards to support the responsible development and deployment of AI.

These were adopted during the Third Meeting of the ABAC in Bangkok, where business leaders from the 21 APEC economies gathered to formulate policy recommendations that will be presented to APEC Economic Leaders during their annual dialogue in China in November.

The recommendation comes as cybercriminals increasingly exploit AI to create convincing deepfakes, impersonate trusted individuals and launch more sophisticated phishing and investment scams.

Tan, representing the Philippines as an ABAC member, said the recommendation carries particular significance for the Philippines as it reinforces the need to strengthen the country’s governance framework.

By doing so, it encourages innovation while establishing safeguards that build public trust and better protect Filipinos from the misuse of AI and other emerging digital technologies.