MALATE, Manila — The increasing use of artificial intelligence (Ai) may aggravate unemployment as it threatens the country's more than 49 million labor force at risk of replacement.

The fear of artificial intelligence (AI) taking over jobs has long been the stuff of science fiction stories, as in recent films like 'Alita: Battle Angel' and the Russian television series 'Better Than Us' which hints on a robotic takeover of human functions.

Many dispell the idea as fictional but in 2025, it’s starting to feel a little too real. According to a new report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), 14 percent of the Filipino workforce could be replaced by AI as the technology continues to evolve.

The IMF report estimates that 36 percent of local jobs are "highly exposed" to Ai so replacement of workers by AI is a stark reminder that a takeover by machines is not that remote after all.

But before anyone of us panics, here’s the catch: More than half of those highly exposed jobs fall under the 'highly complementary' category, which means that AI could actually help workers perform tasks more efficiently rather than replace them altogether.

Moreover, despite the fear by one of every three or 30 percent of workers that they will be replaced by a nachine, confidence in AI Skills has yet to be build up as it still remains drastically low among employers and investors.

Actually, the real concern lies in the remaining 14 percent of roles, which the IMF classifies as having 'low complementarity' with AI, because these roles could face the brunt of AI’s impact in various industries like manufacturing and some repair and maintenance services.

One of the Philippines’ most vital industries—business process outsourcing (BPO)—is also one among several sectors that would most likely feel the effects, with many roles having high exposure and low complementarity to AI.

For one, advances in AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants threaten to replace many customer service positions. Other roles heavily impacted include sales and service jobs, many of which involve routine tasks that AI can perform efficiently.

On the other hand, managers and professionals have the lowest exposure to AI, since the strategic and analytical nature of their roles make it harder to automate. For technicians, clerical support, and machine operators, the risks are more balanced.

Surprisingly, the impact also varies by gender. IMF found that half of women’s jobs are highly exposed to AI, compared to only a quarter of men’s roles.

"To ensure that the gains from implementing AI are widely shared, the authorities will need to invest in digital infrastructure and education and strengthen the social safety net," IMF stated in its report.

Despite all of these issues, the good news is that the majority of Filipinos are generally receptive to learning AI to stay competitive in the workforce—this according to online employment portal JobStreet. So, there is still time for us to breathe easy.