Marcos: AI good tool, but can’t replace drive, grit
President Marcos encouraged students on Friday to utilize artificial intelligence (AI), but noted that it should never replace their drive, creativity and grit to learn about the world.
“You have in your hands an extraordinary and extraordinarily powerful tool, but you must use it to help you think and support your learning,” he said at the Quezon City Science High School.
“It should never replace your drive, your creativity and grit to learn about our world,” he said as he launched the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Project AGAP.AI (Accelerating Governance and Adaptive Pedagogy through Artificial Intelligence)
“As an AI enthusiast, I believe that AI will help us tackle more complex challenges. But there are still some things that technology cannot do for us; technology cannot replace discipline, it cannot replace effort, it cannot replace that habit of showing up, prepared and ready to learn, it cannot replace hard work,” he also said.
Marcos, who admitted he is jealous of the current generation for having AI, said students no longer have an excuse not to study.
“I must say that this generation is very fortunate to be in a world where information and tools are readily available. In our time, when we didn’t have AI,” he said. “Now, you students have no excuse.”
DepEd’s Project AGAP.AI is the department’s flagship program for all AI-related initiatives in basic education.
It promotes the responsible, ethical and human-centered integration of AI to support teaching and learning, enhance digital readiness and strengthen education governance.
AI-focused training program
Under the Project AGAP.AI, DepEd will roll out a national AI skills training program that will reach up to 1.5 million Filipinos, including learners, teachers and parents.
The training courses will cover the responsible use of AI, detecting misinformation, privacy and security and AI literacy.
“We are also investing heavily in our teachers. Through AI-focused training modules, educators will be equipped to teach AI responsibly and creatively, whilst at the same time keeping up with the developing new technologies as they come down the pipeline,” Marcos added.
The President also said the DepEd is closely working with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), MIT Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education and Day of AI to integrate AI concepts into the basic education curriculum.
“All of these initiatives will ensure that AI in education prepares our institutions to keep pace with technology and that every Filipino benefits from those new technologies,” he said.
