MANILA, Philippines — The Marcos administration is developing a national framework to ensure the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), Malacañang announced Tuesday, while also cautioning against the use of AI to spread disinformation in the lead-up to the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).

In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to spearhead research, international benchmarking, and the crafting of regular policy recommendations on AI deployment in the Philippines.

“Ang inuutos po ng Pangulo ay magkaroon ng tuloy-tuloy na pag-aaral patungkol po sa AI—advantages at disadvantages, ang application nito sa bansa, at mga best practices nito sa ibang bansa,” Castro said.

As preparations for the SONA intensify, Castro also warned of potential attempts to use AI-generated content to discredit the government and spread fake news.

She urged media professionals to take part in efforts to counter disinformation, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to truth and accountability.

“Hihingin din po namin ang inyong tulong… malaking tulong po kapag kayo ay may nakikita nang fake news, ito ay maialarma sa taong bayan. Kaya we need your help,” she said.