Executives from Coursera and iPeople Inc. are urging students to tap into the vast potential of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), a form of AI capable of generating content based on user input. They highlighted the growing influence of GenAI across industries and its potential to revolutionize various sectors.

During a small group discussion in Makati, Karine Allouche, Coursera’s Global Head of Enterprise, shared that GenAI could drive an estimated USD 79 billion in productivity gains in the Philippines by 2030—if the country starts focusing on training and upskilling its workforce now.

Allouche highlighted that the most affected areas globally by AI include sales, marketing, research and development, software engineering, and customer operations. While the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts that 36% of jobs in the Philippines could either be displaced or impacted by AI, she emphasized that Coursera views AI as a greater opportunity than a disruption.

She also pointed out that GenAI could contribute an additional USD 50 billion to the Philippine economy by 2030. Allouche revealed that at Coursera, a course in GenAI is enrolled in every 20 minutes, reflecting a growing demand for AI-related education.

In the same discussion, Alfredo Ayala, President of iPeople Inc., acknowledged that while AI presents both challenges and opportunities, it is making an impact across all sectors and career pathways. iPeople Inc. is an educational partnership between Yuchengco and Ayala, operating Mapúa University and several other institutions across the country.

Ayala shared that at iPeople’s schools, students now have access to AI-driven career guidance counselors and AI coaches that help them choose the right degrees and courses. This personalized AI experience is part of the education group’s mission to prepare students for the future job market.

Since 2019, Coursera has been a key partner for iPeople Inc., helping to equip students with new capabilities, including AI-powered learning tools to guide their academic and professional journeys.

This push towards embracing GenAI in education is seen as a crucial step toward preparing Filipino students for the future, where AI will play an increasingly significant role in shaping industries and career opportunities.