President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. warned the public against the scams associated with the use of artificial intelligence (AI). President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his speech during the 85th anniversary celebration of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Makati City on Thursday, June 22. (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office) Speaking at the celebration of the 85th Anniversary of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Chief Executive underscored the need to continue monitoring the new methods used by scammers and fraudsters. “Well, we have to continue strengthening our capabilities when it comes to this. This is not a problem that is exclusive to the Philippines alone and that is some of the danger that people are starting to use AI, people are starting to use all the new very powerful tools that are available to be used on social media or on the internet in general,” he said. Marcos called the fight against these scammers as being comparable to an “arms race.” “Every defense, or every capability that we develop to block, or to catch or nullify this kind of transactions. Of course, they come up with new technology, they come up with new techniques, and so ganun lang talaga (it’s just like that), that’s the only way that we can do. We just to continue to monitor very closely and do all that we can,” he added. This was the President’s answer after he was asked about how the government can protect the public against online lenders and investment scammers. While he lauded the SIM Registration Act as a “big step” toward the protection of the public, he asked Filipinos to continue being vigilant against scams. “My advice to the public is that when you get a message and there is a deal being presented and it sounds too good to be true, it is. There is no such thing as 100 percent risk-free. There is no way to guarantee these enormous returns on what they are claiming, on the money that you put, that you give them,” Marcos said.