AI Governance Events
ASEAN Regional AI Governance Roundtable
Manila, The Philippines
AI Governance in Workforce Development for Inclusive Industry Transformation
Produced by the AI Governance Pillar at AI Singapore,
now part of the NUS Artificial Intelligence Institute
This is the fourth in a series of regional roundtables convened by AI Singapore for representatives from industry, government, and academia to discuss responsible AI within ASEAN. Such discussions are typically too narrow and too broad. Too narrow in that a few voices dominate the discussion—notably those in the United States and Europe, with China sometimes included. Too broad in that discussion is often limited to generalities and principles. This project aims to address both aspects of this problem, involving a wider set of stakeholders— in particular those from Southeast Asia—in more focused discussions of specific challenges in the application of Responsible AI to particular questions.
The Manila Regional Roundtable on AI Governance, held on 24 July 2025, was convened by AI Singapore and the Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines (AAP) as part of a broader ASEAN series on AI governance. As the Philippines advances its national focus on transforming education and the workforce through the establishment of the National Education and Workforce Development group, it is timely to engage stakeholders from government, industry, and academia to explore these emerging challenges collaboratively.
The event brought together a small, focused group of industry leaders, regulators, and academics under the Chatham House Rule to explore the theme: AI Governance in Workforce Development for Inclusive Industry Transformation. Structured around two sessions, it examined the governance challenges of AI adoption in the future of jobs and education, with discussions framed around the following topics:
Session 1: AI and the Future of Jobs – Governance Challenges in Employment and Workforce Transformation
Examined how AI adoption is reshaping roles, organisations, and industries. Topics included:
- Managing AI-induced job displacement and workforce transitions
- Regulating AI in hiring and workplace decision-making
- Algorithmic management and worker rights
- Industry adoption and compliance challenges
Session 2: AI and Education – Governing the AI Talent Pipeline
Focused on how education and training systems can adapt to AI-driven change. Topics included:
- AI in education – risks, reliability, and accountability
- Challenges of AI education – training the next generation of AI professionals
- Impact of AI on skills and workforce adaptation
- Skill mismatch between education and industry demand
The discussion underscored the importance of inclusive, context-sensitive AI governance that reflects the Philippines’ economic structure, particularly the role of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as the equally critical need to strengthen the education and training pipeline for an AI-enabled workforce. At the same time, it underscored the importance of connecting national priorities to regional and global conversations on the responsible adoption of AI.
Funding: This roundtable was funded via a charitable grant from Google.org, as part of Google’s Digital Futures Project.
