ACROSS Southeast Asia, a quiet anxiety is taking root beneath the surface of global optimism about artificial intelligence (AI).
By 2030, an estimated 164 million workers in Asean could see their roles disrupted by generative AI through the automation of routine tasks and the augmentation of complex roles. Recent studies also show that workers fear AI-driven job losses could outpace job creation because of increasing dependence on AI.
This has led to a growing fatalistic attitude, with an emerging belief that the future of work will be determined not by people, but by the algorithms they build and by those who control them.
Yet this narrative, while compelling, is incomplete.
The future of work is not something that happens to us. It is something we create. At its core, job creation is determined not only by technological advancement, but also by human initiative and decision-making. It is driven by individuals who choose to build, solve problems and lead.
If Asean is to navigate this moment with confidence, it must look beyond remaining a passive player in the AI race and ask a more fundamental question: What choices can we make today to ensure that we become creators, not merely adopters, of market opportunities?
Entrepreneurs as human agency
Work is more than survival. It is dignity, identity and contribution. In the Philippines, entrepreneurship has long been a lifeline for families and communities, from sari-sari stores to technology startups. Employment is closely tied to well-being, social stability and personal agency.
Reskilling programs, especially those focused on digital and AI-related skills, are critical, but they only prepare workers for jobs that may or may not exist. Job growth depends on entrepreneurs who create businesses and expand industries. Small and medium enterprises already account for most employment in the country. Without enabling entrepreneurship, reskilling risks becoming a strategy that prepares people for opportunities that never materialize.
The real challenge is not whether jobs will disappear, but whether more Filipinos can be empowered to become creators of opportunity. Entrepreneurship ensures that work remains tied to human agency, not just technological progress.
The next billion jobs will come from distributed opportunities
Broad-based SME growth is one of the strongest drivers of employment in developing economies. Yet in the Philippines, access to finance, networks and markets remains uneven. Startup ecosystems remain concentrated in Metro Manila, leaving rural entrepreneurs at a disadvantage.
This concentration limits inclusion and scale. When opportunity is confined to a few urban centers, the potential of millions of Filipinos in provincial communities remains untapped. Only when access to education, mentorship and capital is more evenly distributed can entrepreneurship generate jobs at the scale the nation requires.
The next billion jobs will not come from a handful of technology hubs. They will come from distributed opportunity — from ensuring that every Filipino, regardless of geography, has the tools to build and grow.
Leveraging technology
Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool, but its benefits risk amplifying inequality if access remains concentrated. For the Philippines, pairing AI with entrepreneurial empowerment can transform it into a force multiplier for inclusive growth.
Technology should not be framed as a competitor to human creativity. It is a collaborator. Productivity gains from AI translate into broader job creation most effectively when participation in innovation is widely distributed.
When Filipino entrepreneurs harness AI to scale their businesses, they not only create jobs but also democratize access to innovation. The future of work is not a contest between humans and machines, but a collaboration in which technology accelerates what human creativity initiates.
The next billion
The Philippines stands at a critical juncture. The conversation about the future of work must evolve from one centered on adaptation to one that embraces creation. Preparing workers to navigate change is necessary, but enabling them to drive that change is essential.
The next billion jobs will not be generated by algorithms alone. They will come from Filipinos who choose to build businesses, solve problems and create value in ways that technology alone cannot dictate.
The role of policy and institutions is clear. It is to ensure that the capacity to create is not limited to a few, but accessible to many. Because the future of work will not be written by code alone. It will be written by people who decide to act.
Vijay Eswaran is the founder and executive chairman of the QI Group of Companies, an e-commerce-based conglomerate diversified into retail and direct sales, telecommunications, property development and logistics, among others. QI Group has regional offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand and a presence in nearly 30 countries through a wide range of subsidiary companies.
