Artificial intelligence (AI) is expanding beyond technology developers and into traditional service sectors such as healthcare and elder care, according to World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) Vice President, Asia Pacific, Scott Wang.
The shift offers a roadmap for Philippine industries to move up the global value chain, coinciding with the country recording its strongest monthly merchandise export performance in 35 years — an August 2026 peak driven predominantly by electronics shipments.
Speaking on global services trade following the recent China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), held in Beijing in September, Wang observed that AI deployment is redefining sectors not traditionally associated with advanced technology.
On the trade floor, exhibitors demonstrated operational AI applications ranging from traditional medicine drug discovery to automated systems for senior care facilities.
Wang said the emphasis at CIFTIS was on demonstrating how AI and other technologies can add value to services. He noted that the same principle extends to manufacturing, where technology can enhance the services supporting manufactured products.
Beyond the Electronics Boom
The global trend arrives alongside record numbers for Philippine merchandise trade. Preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed total exports reached US $9.11 billion in August 2026, rising 27.8% year-on-year to mark the highest monthly value recorded since the statistical series began in 1991.
Electronic products accounted for US $6.20 billion, or 68.1% of total shipments, underscoring the sector’s importance to Philippine exports.
“While not every company needs to become an AI developer, businesses must continue to evaluate where AI can enhance their existing services or add measurable value to the products they already export. This is particularly relevant for the Philippines, where both manufacturing and services serve as primary economic pillars,” said Wang.
The country’s Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) sector is already repositioning itself for an AI-augmented environment. The industry generated over US $40 billion in revenues in 2025, according to the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP).
In its updated industry outlook, IBPAP identified higher-value capabilities, AI-enabled talent, and structured workforce upskilling as top priorities to sustain growth.
For Philippine manufacturers, potential applications could include AI-assisted customer support, product diagnostics, and after-sales services, depending on the needs and capabilities of individual businesses.
Navigating the Talent Bottleneck
While interest in AI is accelerating across Philippine industries, operational execution remains constrained by workforce readiness.
A study by global professional services firm Aon found that 72% of surveyed Philippine organizations have already deployed or are currently piloting AI initiatives. However, only 17% reported being capable of recruiting and retaining sufficient AI-skilled talent to support those initiatives.
The findings indicate that while local firms are eager to experiment with automation, skills shortages remain a significant challenge to turning technology adoption into commercial productivity.
Through its international network of more than 300 World Trade Center (WTC) businesses across nearly 100 countries and territories, which includes World Trade Center Metro Manila (WTCMM), WTCA provides a broader perspective on developments in global services trade. The AI applications showcased at CIFTIS offer relevant examples for Philippine businesses exploring how similar technologies could be integrated into their operations.
