PCC turns to AI to detect uncompetitive behavior

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) can help the government detect business activity that violates competition law, the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said.

“In terms of performing our mandate, I think the application of AI can help us monitor all possible business activity,” PCC Executive Director Kenneth V. Tanate told BusinessWorld on the sidelines of a forum on Tuesday.

AI can help monitor the production and entry of goods into the country and spot trends indicative of uncompetitive behavior, he said.

“If we see that there is a competition issue, through Generated AI information, we can easily investigate. We can pinpoint businesses that may commit violations of Philippine competition law.”

To accelerate the public’s adoption of AI, legislators must prioritize the passage of the Konektadong Pinoy bill, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Undersecretary Krystal Lyn T. Uy said.

“AI needs internet to use. If many parts of the country are unconnected, then they will be unable to use the technology,” she said on the sidelines of the forum.

Previously called the proposed Open Access in Data Transmission Act, the measure seeks to provide affordable internet access by promoting fair competition and removing barriers to entry in the data transmission sector.

House legislators already approved the measure in December, while it awaits second reading at the Senate.

Only 33% of households have access to fixed broadband, with only 70% of the population with an active mobile broadband subscription, the World Bank said in a blog.

In the Philippines, the cost of fixed broadband charges represents 11% of per capita gross national income — double the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) average. 

The Philippines may unlock value estimated at P2.6 trillion annually if domestic business can introduce AI to their daily operations, NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said in July. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz