I DON’T go on Facebook often, but whenever I do, I inevitably encounter a post about Pax Silica with a belligerent comment section.
In an attempt to sift through the noise, I sought a poll or study that can finally clear up the issue. Sadly, the stats did not exist.
The closest proxies are mostly about geopolitics and class issues. A couple of good examples include the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute State of Southeast Asia 2026 Survey and a 500,000 online petition to stop Pax Silica (reported by GMA). Both sources offer data about national attitudes from different segments of the country, but they don’t offer anything solid.
And this issue does not stop with Pax Silica. What do Filipinos know about artificial intelligence (AI)? How do they feel about it?
Are they aware that AI is being treated as critical infrastructure by the United States and China? Are they aware of what the technology will do to the economy and labor market?
Do they even care?
AI is already being treated as a critical technology by many countries, and we should as well. One of the ways our leaders can do that is by ordering a study or a poll, not just on Pax Silica but on AI in general.
They will need the study to guide them in planning future legislation, anticipate risks and hopefully create plans that will help the Philippines adapt to an AI economy.
So far, the public discussion around AI feels touchy, reactive. Many of the commentary around Pax Silica and AI come from a place of fear and misunderstanding.
Even if our leaders cannot control what the public thinks, they should at least try to understand where they are coming from, and the only way to do that is by investing in a targeted poll./PN
