'I feel like I dug my own grave': The workers caught in the AI transition

For nearly a decade, Lisa, a single mother, supported herself through content writing. Unaware of the impending disruption, she immersed herself in the thriving outsourcing industry in the Philippines, eventually joining a multinational corporation. Lisa expressed her indifference towards incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into her work, stating that she could meet deadlines and deliver results without relying on AI.

However, her job prospects took a sudden downturn when a PR agency started using AI-generated content, for which her colleagues, including Lisa, had to edit the material.

Lisa, now unemployed, laments, "I feel like I dug my own grave." She and other former outsourcing employees, who wished to remain anonymous, share their experiences with the BBC. They signed confidentiality agreements to avoid potential repercussions on their future job prospects. These individuals' stories shed light on a pressing issue facing emerging economies, such as the Philippines: the profound impact of AI on jobs that once propelled millions into the middle class.