AI in our midst

The discourse about artificial intelligence (AI) has ranged from rabid technological optimism to prophetic warnings about human obsolescence.

The late 18th century to the 19th century saw how mechanization revolutionized production, trade, and urban life. While it made manufacturing more efficient, it created far-reaching social problems such as child labor, unsafe working conditions, and widening inequality that prompted governments to enact labor laws and safety nets.

In the late 20th century, we had the internet and the digital revolution. It connected billions of people and transformed communication, commerce, and knowledge sharing. However, it unleashed new risks and exposed people to disinformation, invasion of privacy, scams, and other cybercrimes.

AI is the next revolution.

The Industrial Revolution took centuries. The internet, decades. AI is undoubtedly much faster, with its breadth far wider, cutting through all sectors we can think of.

Just as the significant breakthroughs brought about by the Industrial Revolution and the internet had their attendant risks, AI also presents risks that could threaten the very core of humanity.

No one can argue against AI’s potential to augment human capability. It can speed up medical diagnostics, language translation, data analysis, and more. Without a doubt, it expands man’s capacity beyond natural limits.

Like any other tool, we must remember that its effectiveness depends on how we use it.

A knife, on its own, is neither good nor bad. It all depends on who is wielding it. In the hands of a chef in a kitchen, it can help create wonderful, nourishing dishes. In the hands of an angry, unhinged individual, it is frightening.

Human intervention is key when using AI—and it shouldn’t be just in the beginning when we send our prompts. At the heart of using AI for the improvement of mankind is human intervention.

AI may have the intelligence, but only humans possess the warmth and wisdom in the age of automation.

According to Unesco’s Youth Survey Report on AI and Digital Skills for World Youth Skills Day 2025 covering over 4,000 respondents across 128 countries, 62 percent of the youth are already using AI in real-world contexts but only 30 percent have received formal training—highlighting critical gaps in access, ethics, and infrastructure.​

The survey also showed that 40 percent have not received training on ethical AI use, media literacy, or digital responsibility. Some 51 percent received AI and digital training, while 44 percent are untrained but interested in training.

The study noted institutional gaps, with only 34 percent saying their schools have access to AI-enhanced learning tools.

The youth used AI most frequently for research/writing, revision, and learning. It is moderately used for social media, content management, and creative writing. Users saw productivity gains but were aware of the risks, such as being too reliant on AI, reduced critical thinking, academic dishonesty, misinformation, and bias.

“This balanced prioritization reflects a sophisticated understanding among young people that effective AI integration in education and the workforce necessitates both robust technical expertise and strong human-centric skills. The data suggests that the youth recognize the value of a holistic skill set, where technical proficiency is complemented by the ability to collaborate, communicate, and engage with others,” the study said.

Employment is the main motivation for the youth to acquire AI skills. Access to practical training is another incentive. This shows that the youth are pragmatic and career oriented.

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Despite the increasing role of AI in our lives, infrastructural and informational challenges exist. “Lack of access is the biggest barrier,” the study said.

The Konektadong Pinoy bill lapsed into law on Aug. 24. It promises better access to the internet as well as improved competition that should bring down costs while making the service better.

Higher educational institutions (HEIs) are uniquely positioned to assess AI ethics and explore safeguards to promote responsible use in colleges and universities.

HEIs should lead the way in establishing clear and practical guidelines on using AI in a way that is fair, responsible, and beneficial for everyone.

The guidelines are expected to delve on the responsible use of AI, protecting data privacy, avoiding bias and discrimination, recognizing AI limitations, seeking transparency in AI systems, and advocating AI ethical use.

AI is transforming the global landscape and human intervention needs to be at the core. While AI improves efficiency, it cannot fully replace human creativity, judgment, and empathy that we must continuously hone in our schools and universities.

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Dr. Zosimo M. Battad is the president of the University of the East, a private academic institution founded in 1946 which, for a time, had the highest enrollment in Asia.