DID THE KOMISYON ng Wikang Filipino (KWF) just promote the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with this year’s theme for Buwan ng Wika “The Filipino Language and AI: A Tool for Research and a Bridge to the Wealth of Information”? It is a reminder that the Filipino language is alive, growing, and evolving with the times. But are we feeding our language to AI?
In the past, research meant going to libraries and reading books and research materials. Today, that has changed. Because of AI, we can now ask questions in Filipino and get answers in Filipino. It can help us read books by summarizing an entire library in a snap. AI has become a tool that makes knowledge more accessible. And because we can use Filipino, language is no longer a barrier to learning.
The internet is an ocean of information. It can translate old documents, research papers, and articles into simple Filipino. It can condense long papers and books into summaries that students can understand. AI helps us digitize and preserve stories, poems, and local languages so they won’t be lost. But how reliable are the information given by AI?
We still need to double check and not accept what AI gives us in its entirety. It could provide wrong information if the prompt is not correct. It can also get confused and mix everything up; at least, in my own observation. It can only manufacture from what it had been fed. AI cannot talk about something that is in the very core of the locals unless information is given. It cannot replace the heart of our language. It cannot imitate the jokes of your favorite jester. It cannot feel the depth of a Filipino proverb or riddle.
So as we celebrate this year, this is my take: AI chat is already here, we cannot just ignore it anymore. Use AI only when necessary, and do not forget to verify the information it gives you. Remember it is just a tool, not a replacement for human research. Humans still need to use their brains.
And yes, maybe one way to preserve the language and make it keep up with the times is to use it with AI. Use modern tools so our beautiful language doesn’t get lost but do not forget to also care for the environment which is affected by excessive use of these technologies.
In the end, earth, our home, is the most important thing that we must protect. Let it die, no one survives. What’s the use of technology and everything when earth is destroyed and people have perished?