Philippine businesses face a growing risk as they use artificial intelligence (AI) and automation to make decisions faster: unreliable or incomplete data can spread costly mistakes across an organization.
Companies now collect large amounts of information from customers, employees, partners, and business systems. But economic pressure, geopolitical tensions, and rapid technological change make it harder for leaders to determine which data is accurate, relevant, and complete.
“Simply having more data isn’t the answer. What matters is having the right data, with enough depth, breadth, and context to see the whole picture. Because when the picture is incomplete, then the decision will also be incomplete,” said Pia Arellano, president and CEO of CIBI Information Inc., a credit bureau.
The issue affects decisions involving investments, business partnerships, hiring, customer service, risk management, and AI deployment. Poor information in one area can also create problems elsewhere because business operations, commercial priorities, customer experience, and risk are increasingly connected.
This makes trusted data an important part of business resilience, especially when companies must act without complete information.
“Resilience is not simply the ability to survive disruption; it is the ability to adapt, make sound decisions, and continue moving forward despite uncertainty,” said former Trade Secretary and BSP Monetary Board Member Peter Favila.
AI raises the stakes because it can process information and automate decisions much faster than people. While the technology can identify patterns and speed up work, it can also multiply errors when the information behind it is inaccurate, outdated, or taken out of context.
“Technology without sound judgment can amplify our mistakes just as easily as it can amplify our capabilities,” said Rene Buenaventura, president of Pin An Holdings Corp. and Cliveden Management Corp. “Speed must be accompanied by accountability, automation must be accompanied by oversight, and intelligence must be accompanied by judgment.”
Businesses, therefore, still need people to check automated findings, assess risks, and take responsibility for decisions.
“Algorithms process data, but people exercise judgment. Systems can flag risk, but leaders must decide how to respond,” said Francis Estrada, chair of CIBI.
Aside from technology, capital, and physical assets, companies may need to treat reliable information as a basic part of their infrastructure. It helps leaders decide where to invest, which partners to trust, and how to respond to emerging threats and opportunities.
“Trust is not a soft concept. It is a fundamental piece of economic infrastructure,” Estrada said.