A PHILIPPINE telecommunications group is expanding digital infrastructure and training initiatives to help universities prepare students for an economy increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence (AI), an executive said during a forum in Manila.
Speaking at a 50th anniversary event of the Mendiola Consortium at Centro Escolar University, Blums Pineda, senior vice president and head of the Enterprise Business Group, said academic institutions will play a key role in preparing the workforce for AI-driven industries.
“Artificial intelligence is not just another technology cycle. It’s a general-purpose technology like electricity or the internet—one that changes how entire industries operate and how professionals do their work,” Pineda said.
The shift is expected to reshape, rather than replace, most jobs. Global research indicates that about 25 percent to 35 percent of jobs may be affected by AI at the task level, while only 3 percent to 5 percent face a high risk of full displacement.
“What we’re seeing is not the disappearance of human roles. AI handles repetitive tasks, while people focus on decision-making, relationships and solving more complex problems,” he said.
This trend is already visible in the country’s information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) sector, which employs nearly two million workers. AI tools are used to summarize interactions and retrieve information, allowing employees to focus on higher-value work.
Universities, meanwhile, face pressure to adapt as AI becomes embedded in professional tasks such as software development, market analysis and medical support.
“Every technological revolution eventually walks into a classroom. The difference with AI is that it didn’t politely wait for curriculum committees. It has already arrived,” Pineda said.
Institutions are integrating AI into teaching, research and administrative functions, while addressing concerns related to academic integrity, bias and responsible use.
The company’s enterprise and data center units have been working with universities to support early adoption, including pilot programs that introduce generative AI concepts such as prompt engineering and practical applications using workplace tools.
At the same time, the group is investing in infrastructure to support AI deployment, including high-capacity data centers, connectivity and secure data systems.
Among these is a hyperscale facility in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, designed to support AI workloads and host local data processing.
“The invisible infrastructure behind AI—fiber networks, computing power and data centers — will determine how quickly institutions can innovate,” Pineda said.
The group is also rolling out programs aimed at expanding access to AI tools and training for schools and communities.
“Technology only transforms society when ordinary institutions can use it,” he said.
He added that preparing students for an AI-driven economy will require not only technical skills but also critical thinking, ethical judgment and interdisciplinary problem-solving.
“The future of AI in education won’t be determined by how quickly we buy new tools. It will be determined by how carefully we build the systems behind them,” Pineda said.
