Most Filipino workers feel unprepared as firms ramp up AI adoption - study

Filipino companies are accelerating their adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), but most workers say they are not equipped to keep pace, according to a new regional study by enterprise AI platform Lark.

The study found that while nine in 10 employers in the Philippines are building workplace cultures that embrace technological change, only 17% consider their organizations digitally mature, with most still in the early stages of AI adoption.

The research also highlighted a growing disconnect between management and employees, with 75% of Filipino workers saying company leaders are out of touch with their digital needs.

Organizations in the Philippines are focusing digital investments on functions that offer immediate cost savings, the report said. IT (72%), marketing (61%), and finance (60%) are the most likely to be fully digitized, while employee experience (47%) and human resources (44%) trail behind.

Some 83% of the employees said they need greater support in cybersecurity and AI productivity, yet only one in four feel they have received enough training to innovate confidently.

Employees also reported that workplace technology is creating new challenges instead of improving efficiency. More than half said they lose at least three hours each week due to digital collaboration issues, while 80% feel overwhelmed by the number of workplace tools they are required to use.

The study further found that trust remains a major hurdle to AI adoption. Only 15% of Filipino employees believe their organizations are highly transparent about how AI is being implemented, while 65% worry AI could eventually make their jobs obsolete and 77% have significant concerns over its security implications.

"These findings should be a wake-up call. We are at a pivotal moment for AI adoption across Southeast Asia, but what this research tells us is that the foundation isn't as solid as leadership believes. Employees are overwhelmed, undertrained and increasingly disconnected from the decisions that shape their working lives," said Lark Asia Pacific general manager Olivier Adam.

"Unless organizations address that gap now, before they layer more AI on top of an already fragmented experience, they risk accelerating the wrong things. Technology is ready. The question is whether people expected to use it feel ready too."

Despite these concerns, workers remain optimistic about AI’s potential. The survey found that 86% want AI to handle routine tasks, provided organizations invest in training, clearer communication, and workplace systems that support employees rather than add complexity.

The report was based on a double-blind survey of 900 employers and more than 5,000 employees across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam. — VBL, GMA News