Vice President Sara Duterte has weighed in on the growing discourse surrounding artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content, stating that there is no issue with sharing such material, as long as it is not monetized.
Speaking at a press conference in Davao City on Monday, Duterte defended the use of AI-generated videos after her ally Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and her brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, were criticized online for reposting a digitally created video that showed students voicing support for her amid impeachment calls.
“Wala problema siguro sa pag-share ng AI video in support sa akin. Basta ‘yung hindi ginagawang negosyo,” Duterte said.
She elaborated that producing AI-generated content is acceptable when it’s shared by individuals who are not profiting from it. “Kumbaga, if I were a social media account owner, and gagawa ako ng AI to support a certain personality, walang problema doon kasi hindi ko naman siya ginagawang negosyo eh. Hindi ko naman binibenta sa mga tao yung produkto ko eh,” she added.
The controversy stemmed from a video that appeared to feature two young male students articulating their reasons for rejecting calls for Duterte’s impeachment. The video, clearly marked with an “#AI” hashtag, bore signs of being synthetically created. However, this did not deter Senator Dela Rosa, who reshared it with the caption: “Mabuti pa ang mga bata, nakakaintindi sa mga pangyayari. Makinig kayo, mga yellow at mga komunista!”
The post quickly drew backlash from netizens, many of whom pointed out that the video was AI-generated and criticized the senator for treating it as authentic. Dela Rosa initially dismissed his critics as “trolls,” but later clarified that he was more focused on the message conveyed by the video rather than its origin.
Meanwhile, Mayor Baste Duterte deleted his post of the video, choosing not to comment further on the matter.
The incident has sparked renewed discussion over the ethical boundaries of AI content, especially when used in political discourse. While Duterte’s stance highlights a distinction between personal and commercial use, critics argue that even non-profit AI-generated political content can still influence public opinion and blur the lines between reality and fabrication.
I would not agree on the AI generated content especially if it used to influence against public opinion or public perceptions,
For the records, The polvoron issues which had also AI generated content that almost tarnished the image and reputation of the President has an impact on political and social or even on economic issues.