ADB designates Philippines as potential recipient of technical assistance to boost AI readiness

THE PHILIPPINES is among 12 economies covered by a proposed regional technical assistance project which will strengthen those countries’ artificial intelligence (AI) readiness, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The project, known as Advancing Artificial Intelligence Readiness through Infrastructure, Solutions, and Enabling Skills, will seek to strengthen AI infrastructure, accelerate AI adoption, and build institutional capacity.

The technical assistance will focus on three pillars: AI-ready digital infrastructure, AI solutions, and institutional capacity building.

The project will also support the ADB’s Center for AI Innovation and Development and complement its Asia-Pacific Digital Highway initiative, which seeks to strengthen digital connectivity, cloud and data center ecosystems, and interoperable digital platforms across the region.

“Collectively, these activities are intended to facilitate the development of a pipeline of AI-enabled sovereign and non-sovereign investments across sectors by translating identified opportunities and validated use cases into investment-ready concepts and projects,” it added.

The ADB said gaps in digital infrastructure, governance, and institutional capacity continue to hamper AI adoption in developing countries.

The bank said the project will help developing member countries address these challenges through diagnostics, pilot projects, and ecosystem development, responding to growing demand for AI infrastructure planning, adoption, and institutional readiness.

The project also aligns with the ADB’s broader push to accelerate digital transformation in Asia and the Pacific.

In a statement on Friday, ADB President Masato Kanda said the bank is mobilizing private-sector support for its flagship projects.

These include the Asia-Pacific Digital Highway which seeks to mobilize $20 billion by 2035 for fiber networks, submarine cables, and data centers, improving connectivity for 650 million people.

“The private sector brings more than financial firepower. It brings innovation, technology, market discipline, and the ability to deliver at speed and scale,” Mr. Kanda said.

“ADB’s task is to connect that power and innovation with the region’s greatest needs, from reliable energy and digital connectivity to stronger supply chains and critical minerals. The public sector alone cannot overcome these monumental challenges,” he added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile