The Philippines slipped three places in this year’s World Digital Competitiveness Ranking (WDCR), landing at 59th or fifth to the last among 64 countries measured on how they approaching digital transformation in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).
This is also the lowest rank of the Philippines since 2019.
Among the 14 Asia-Pacific countries covered by the WDCR, the Philippines placed second to the last or 13th, where it languished since 2020.
The Philippines’ ranking slipped in all three factors considered by the list: knowledge 63rd (from 62nd) future-readiness, 59th (from 58th) and technology, 51st (from 49th).
Across sub-factors, the Philippines performed well in female researchers and high tech export, both 2nd; investment in telecommunication, 9th; attitude towards globalization, 22nd and; public private partnership, 31st.
The country, however, performed poorly in starting a business and communication technology, both 63rd; enforcing contracts, 62nd and; internet users and women with degrees, both 59th.
The US reclaimed the top spot this year while the Netherlands rose to second position, followed by Singapore and former leader Denmark.
They lead the top economies in this year’s ranking or those that could be considered “digital nations” or countries that facilitate the full adoption of digital technologies —including AI —by governments, companies, and individuals.
AI technology and national security concerns are at the core of another remarkable trend observed in the ranking: an increasing focus on cybersecurity.
Of the 4,000 senior executives around the world who responded to the WDCR survey, only five percent said they hadn’t implemented any new cybersecurity measures in the past year.
