Southeast Asia: A ‘laboratory’ for tech and the future of work

SOUTHEAST ASIA is shaping up to become a laboratory for testing inclusive, technology-driven workforce models, as companies rethink how to incorporate automation and artificial intelligence (AI) into their business models.

- By Erika Mae P. Sinaking

Vijay Eswaran, a Malaysian who serves as executive chairman of the QI Group, told Business World that companies can use technology to redesign work rather than replace employees, and that inclusive, skills-based strategies are essential for preparing the workforce for future roles in both the domestic and regional economies.

“The smartest way to think about technology is not ‘jobs lost versus jobs gained; but tasks redesigned,” Mr. Eswaran said in an email interview. “AI, automation, and digital tools don’t replace people as much as they replace parts of work. That's a huge opportunity to lift productivity while widening participation.”

Citing the 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF) Future of Jobs Report, he noted that while 92 million positions may be displaced globally, 170 million new ones are expected to emerge. He said this means inclusion must be designed into transformation from the outset.

Mr. Eswaran recommended designing “augmentation-first” roles. “Start by mapping tasks in frontline, service, operations and admin roles, then introduce tools that remove drudgery and raise judgement-work,” he said citing customer problem-solving, exception handling, relationship management.

Broadening digital access, he said, is also essential, with WEF data showing that 60% of employers consider it to be the single most transformative trend.

“The future of work isn’t about replacing Filipinos with machines; it’s about upgrading Filipino work so talent can move up the value chain,” he said.

This approach is critical for a country currently enjoying a “demographic dividend” — a working-age population projected to grow until 2045.