Arci Muñoz defends AI use amid ‘Sigabo’ controversy

Actress urges public to embrace AI or risk being left behind.

Singer-actress Arci Muñoz is weighing in on the growing debate over artificial intelligence (AI)  in local productions, defending its use as a “helpful tool” amid backlash faced by her action-adventure series “Sigabo.”

“Sigabo” recently drew criticism online after a scene circulated on social media, with viewers claiming it appeared to have been generated or enhanced using AI. The clip puzzled audiences, some saying it looked “more like an AI-generated TikTok” than a primetime television sequence. 

The issue quickly snowballed into a broader conversation about the use of AI in Philippine entertainment, with critics arguing that it could undermine the work of artists and production staff.

Asked about the controversy, Muñoz admitted she was unaware of the “Sigabo” backlash but stood by the show’s production team and the use of the technology.

“In our production company, we also use AI. It’s a great tool to help us accentuate a scene or something, but for those people who are not ready to embrace AI, baka mapag-iwanan sila,” she told radar Entertainment and a group of showbiz scribes on Thursday afternoon. 

The actress runs a film and media production company called NDM Studios, which she co-founded with Palanca-winning writer and director Njel de Mesa.

While acknowledging public hesitation, Muñoz stressed that resistance may not stop the technology’s inevitable integration into everyday life and creative industries.

“But I understand, people are still afraid of AI. But I was at an AI convention recently,” she added, before emphasizing the need for adaptability. “I realized that we all have to be ready because eventually, everybody can use AI na.”

Muñoz also urged critics to explore the technology instead of rejecting it outright.

“So instead na i-bash mo, hindi mo sundan, gamitin mo na rin, because it’s a really helpful tool,” she said. “Kailangan mong sumabay sa development ng buhay or else, wala, you’ll be left behind.”

Still, she conceded that the Philippines may not yet be fully ready to embrace AI in entertainment, even as she believes the shift is inevitable.

“And I don’t know, probably the Philippines is not ready for it. But I think it’s about time. It’s here, it’s right in front of you. So, if you’re not gonna make the most of it, you’ll be left behind,” she said.

The controversy has also drawn attention to “Sigabo” producer ABS-CBN, with some viewers questioning whether AI use, especially when noticeable, compromises production quality.

Others, however, pointed to tight budgets and evolving workflows as reasons studios might turn to such tools.

As debate continues, Muñoz’s stance reflects a growing divide in the industry: between those wary of AI’s impact on creativity, and those who see it as an unavoidable next step in storytelling.

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