'I feel like I dug my own grave': The workers caught in the AI transition
Filipino outsourcing workers are facing job displacement as companies increasingly integrate AI into their workflows. Many employees report being forced to train the very AI systems that eventually rendered their roles redundant.
Why it matters
This highlights the socio-economic risks of AI automation in emerging economies that rely heavily on the business process outsourcing sector.
Image source, Bloomberg via Getty Images Image caption, The Philippines is known as the call centre capital of the world
For 15 years, single mother Lisa made a living from content writing.
She began writing straight out of college, freelanced for years and eventually followed a path taken by many young Filipinos: joining a multinational in the country's booming outsourcing industry.
Lisa says she never felt the need to use artificial intelligence (AI) in her work.
"I can say that I am able to do my job, I meet deadlines. In my opinion, there is no need for [AI]," she told the BBC.
Eight months into her latest role, and one month before the position was due to become permanent, she was made redundant.
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