University of the Philippines publishes principles for responsible AI

The University of the Philippines (UP) published its Principles for Responsible and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence on July 11, 2023, setting out how AI should be developed and used across the university system.

The document on UP's website lists 15 principles in three groups. Five general principles cover the common good, empowerment, cultural sensitivity, privacy and accountability. Five apply to research and development: meaningful human control, transparency, fairness, safety and environmental friendliness. Five address education: the primacy of learning goals, human capital development, capacity building, education management and delivery, and collaboration. Two bodies are tasked with putting the principles into practice: a UP AI Advancement Committee, which drafts implementing rules, and a multi-sector UP AI Advisory Board.

The text acknowledges concern that generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Google Bard could open the door to cheating and plagiarism. It also notes that UP offers undergraduate and graduate AI courses and the country's first doctoral program in the field. The Manila Bulletin, reporting on July 20, 2023, described the principles as a draft released while fuller guidelines were being formulated, and called UP the first Philippine university to craft such guidance. The UP web page was last updated in November 2023.