'I feel like I dug my own grave': The workers caught in the AI transition

📰 source: bbc_business · 💼 business

in the philippines, content writer lisa spent 15 years in outsourcing before being made redundant eight months into a role — one month before it became permanent. she says she and colleagues were asked to edit ai-generated material and their skills were used to train the ai on the company's writing style. 'i feel like i dug my own grave,' she says.

the philippines' outsourcing industry employs about 1.9 million people and generates $40bn a year, roughly 10% of the economy. the international labour organization estimates 12.7 million filipino workers are exposed to generative ai, the highest share in southeast asia. more than two-thirds of ibpap members are running ai pilots, says its president.

companies like teleperformance and accenture say ai will augment rather than replace workers, and promise retraining. but some layoffs may be 'ai washing,' says a university researcher — presented as tech progress when responding to weak demand. the government plans to upskill 300,000 outsourcing workers but admits it's 'slightly behind.'

why it matters: ai-driven layoffs in philippine outsourcing threaten a $40bn industry employing nearly 2 million workers.

source: bbc_business
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