PH poised to become big data hub enablePagination: false endIndex: Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 5)— As the coronavirus turns the world upside down, the Philippines — despite being a regional "AI laggard" — is taking a giant leap of faith: An ambitious AI venture. Trade officials launched on Wednesday an AI roadmap that charts the country’s journey towards becoming what they describe as a “big data processing hub” that provides “high-value data analytics and AI services to the world.” From precision farming that cuts food spoilage, to driverless cars and intelligent sensors in factories, to disease modelling, drug discovery and COVID-19 contact tracing, AI or artificial intelligence may be the key to solving today’s nagging problems of society.