Globe Group’s Cascadeo: 2024 insights on tech; Businesses to ride or perish in Generative AI wave

The coming year will see a generative AI wave–  a period of greater AI use across many industries– and enterprises will have to adopt or get swept away, Globe Group’s AI-first cloud services firm Cascadeo has said.

In a forecast on tech in 2024, Jared Reimer, Founder, President, and Chief Technology Officer of Cascadeo, said the coming year will be a “time to fully embrace generative AI across every role and aspect of business as a part of each organization's key strategy,” with more use cases developing across industries.

“We foresee generative AI refocusing— but not necessarily replacing— the digital transformation and managed services that power our customers’ success in the cloud. As use of generative AI increases, businesses must learn to adopt instead of resisting the changes,” Reimer said.

“The earthquake has already happened, and the tsunami has already formed. It is racing towards shore and there is nothing that can be done to slow or stop it. Either you learn to ride the wave or you will find yourself flattened by it. This is going to happen much faster than most people realize or appreciate. 2024 will be the year AI becomes prevalent in all we see and do, both at work and in our personal lives,” he added.

Data from tech research firm Gartner showed that by 2026, over 80% of enterprises would have already used generative AI application programming interfaces or models, or else deployed applications enabled by generative AI in production environments. In another poll released in October, Gartner said it had found that 55% of organizations surveyed were either “piloting or in production mode” with generative AI.

As a leading provider of managed cloud and professional solutions, Cascadeo stands ready to support enterprises in developing generative AI adoption strategies, Reimer said. This will help companies avoid the potential downsides of cloud adoption such as cost overruns, security issues, and compliance concerns.

 

“With our industry-leading tech and expertise, Cascadeo is ready to help companies take their first steps into adopting generative AI and guide them through implementation. We will be there to guide them in migrating to a cloud environment that’s scalable and adaptive as AI evolves,” Reimer said.

 

Cascadeo leverages generative AI within its own operations and in its services. Cascadeo AI, its cloud management platform powered by generative AI and AWS, allows businesses to monitor, manage, and optimize cloud deployments in real-time by combining generative AI with human expertise to simplify public cloud management for managed service providers and enterprise customers.

 

To learn more about Cascadeo, visit https://www.cascadeo.com/.

PLDT, Smart caution against AI-crafted phishing emails

PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) remind the public to carefully read through their emails or messages before responding or clicking attached links as local authorities expect online scams to rise during the holidays. PLDT and Smart’s Cyber Security Operations Group (CSOG) says that cyber criminals are not only getting better at mimicking legitimate emails, but they’re also using artificial intelligence (AI) to make their messages more convincing.

“AI-crafted emails contain more polished, personalized messages that imitate the writing style of humans. They also contain authentic-looking visual cues that trick victims into believing that they are reading official messages from their banks or organizations,” warned Angel Redoble, FVP and Chief Information Security Officer at PLDT, Smart and ePLDT.

 

Citing an initial study of Germany-based cybersecurity awareness training service provider SoSafe, CSOG says victims are more likely to reveal their personal information through phishing messages authored by AI.

“The most important thing is to know who the email is from. Remembering the very basic rule of not talking to strangers can protect people from being victimized by scammers,” added Redoble.

PLDT and Smart remain relentless in keeping customers secure from cyber-attacks. In the first eleven months of 2023, the PLDT Group prevented almost 17 billion attempts to open malicious domains after it blacklisted more than five million malicious URLs and links tied to phishing, spams, hoaxes and other illegal activities. It has also blocked more than 60 million SMShing messages from reaching customers in the same period. Smart also blacklisted more than 290,000 mobile numbers being used in nefarious activities from its network in the January to November time frame.

If you receive a dubious or malicious message, take a screenshot, and send it to cybersecurityincidents@smart.com.ph. You can likewise report other cybersecurity matters like phishing, vishing, and malicious domains though this channel.

The efforts of PLDT and Smart to detect and block malicious messages, including SIMs and websites tied to fraudulent activities, are fundamental to the PLDT Group’s much broader program to elevate the quality of customer experience by protecting them from threats and cyber-attacks. 

Globe’s next-gen leaders delve into AI and humanity at International Design Conference

Globe’s next generation leaders shared invaluable insights on the blend of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the human experience at the 7th International Design Conference, an event that marked the 50th anniversary of the Design Center of the Philippines.

Returning with more disruptive design concepts and an immersive environment that encouraged attendees to rethink limits, the two-day conference, held in cooperation with Globe, unveiled the evolving landscape and transformative potential of design.

 

Design luminaries and game-changers from the design sector and the Philippine creative economy collaborated to captivate audiences with immersive keynote presentations, provocative fireside chats, inspiring case studies, future-focused visioning, and an industry meet-up.

 

Globe’s Wil Sarmiento, Director and Head of Customer Lifecycle, and Paolo Toledo, Director and Head of Creatives, stood out with their forward-thinking perspectives.  They joined world-renowned personalities such as award-winning design critic and author Alice Rawsthorn, program director of the Danish Design Centre Christina Melander; Sarah ichioka, founding director of Desire Lines; Dr. Anna Whicher, Policy Consultant of the “Making Design Count: The Value and Impact of Design on the Philippine Economy”; and Professor Daniela Bohlinger, Sustainability Design Pioneer.

 

Sarmiento, delivered a keynote that delved into the future skills in the age of human-machine collaboration, underscoring the potential of a symbiotic relationship that harnesses the strengths of both.

 

“Remember the value that you bring to the table: creativity, empathy, and the ability to change. AI will open doors that only humanity will be able to walk through,” he pointed out.

In a thought-provoking panel discussion led by Beth MacDonald, Chief People Officer of Biocellion SPC, Toledo, highlighted the intrinsic value of human intuition and design in an AI-driven world.

“Being human is the greatest design of all. While technology provides efficient solutions, it simply answers “what’s right” or “what’s needed”. BUT it's us humans who trigger innovation and purpose. We hold the power to ask “what's next?” and more importantly, “what for?” he said.

 

The International Design Conference, with its rich legacy of championing design innovation, is a thought leadership platform that celebrates the intersection of design, business, technology, and policy while thriving at the edge of disciplines to remain provocative and to use design and creativity to ask difficult questions and to take the audience to new territories.

 

Globe's design leaders not only contributed to this dialogue but also illuminated the path forward, emphasizing a future where technology and human ingenuity seamlessly converge.

 

For more information about the International Design Conference and its key takeaways, please visit  www.facebook.com/DTI.DesignCenterPH.

 

To learn more about Globe, go to https://www.globe.com.ph/.

917Ventures dives into generative AI innovations

In a bold move to further its technological prowess, 917Ventures, the corporate venture builder of the Globe Group, is diving deep into the world of generative artificial intelligence (AI). This cutting-edge AI technology, known for its ability to autonomously generate text, images and other media, is redefining the paradigms of digital innovation.

Generative AI holds the potential to revolutionize how people and organizations create, innovate, and operate, making processes more efficient, personalized, and forward-thinking.

“We are building generative AI products to strengthen our tech capabilities. For 917Ventures, the goal is to really strengthen our telco-to-techco strategy and to build the next generation of great companies in the country by maximizing all of the assets of the Globe Group,” said Vince Yamat, 917Ventures Managing Director.

For the remainder of the year, 917Ventures will continue to scale its digital health product, KonsultaMD. It is also bullish on B2B Software as a Service (SaaS) to enable Filipino Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs).

917Ventures is also looking at several climate tech initiatives in line with its sustainability commitment. Through collaboration with Ayala Corporation and Gogoro, 917Ventures’ Gogoro Philippines will make Gogoro smart scooters and innovative battery-swapping technology available in Metro Manila by the fourth quarter of 2023.

 

917Ventures keeps an impressive track record in building and supporting entrepreneurs.  So far, it has vetted over 500 ideas and launched 26 ventures.

This year alone, 917Ventures introduced three new portfolio companies to the market, bringing its total portfolio to 14. These are PetPal, offering fast and accessible pet care and lifestyle solutions; Housify, a broker productivity suite designed to provide quality leads and unparalleled support; and Capitan, a tech-driven consulting service dedicated to guiding Filipino entrepreneurs.

Further showcasing its achievements, 917Ventures reported that its e-commerce platform RUSH has acquired and served 1400 merchants this year. Additionally, online bootcamp KodeGo has successfully graduated 1440 individuals.

 

With its strategic move into generative AI, coupled with its ongoing initiatives in various sectors, 917Ventures continues to solidify its position as a leader in technological innovation and entrepreneurship. As the company moves into new territories, it remains steadfast in its mission to harness the power of technology for the betterment of society and the environment.

 

Learn more about 917Ventures and its startups by visiting https://917ventures.com/.

PLDT keen on exploring AI tech for intelligent network, customer service

Leading integrated telco network PLDT Inc (PLDT) and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc (Smart) are optimistic about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in making their network operations more efficient, elevating customer experience and future-proofing their business.

"We cannot navigate the new world with an old map. Things are changing, technology is developing, and we need to leapfrog in terms of our plans and strategies," said Alfredo S. Panlilio, PLDT and Smart President and CEO, during the recent PLDT first half 2023 earnings media briefing. "We have been looking into AI and studying how it can help us grow our business, be more efficient, and be more customer-centric," he said, adding that the challenge for the telco industry is finding the 'next big thing'. "We have to think beyond what we are doing today and innovate. The challenge for us is finding the next big idea, and possible growth areas."

Currently, PLDT and Smart are employing AI and machine learning on their self-optimizing network, joining global operators in the rapid adoption of the technology. "AI and machine learning enable us to have a more predictive--and later on, prescriptive--way of operating our network," said Eric Santiago, PLDT and Smart Network Head.

Meanwhile, Victor S. Genuino, President and CEO of PLDT's ICT arm ePLDT, emphasized the value of a "strong governance model" and human oversight at the start when employing AI even in conventional use cases such as chatbots for customer service.

"These chatbots may speak English, understand Taglish and be able to negotiate with customers on an assigned date of payment, but overall, the AI application has to be driven by a very strong governance model. You cannot just load a lot of information onto AI and expect it to run by itself. There needs to be human supervision at the onset to ensure that the right information is being delivered. However, as the AI bot self-learns, it will become a very effective customer service tool," he said.

PLDT Chief Transformation & Customer Officer Emmanuel C. Lorenzana, on the other hand, believes AI will enable telcos to know their customers better. "As this develops, we will see that even more complex and highly personalized interactions will be driven by AI. Another use case for AI is Customer Value Management or CVM, where we can push offers that are tailor-fit to our subscribers' needs," he said.

PLDT and Smart's foray into AI and other new technologies is tied in with the Group's aspirational multi-year transformation, which has elevated customer experience and enhancing operational excellence as among the key priorities. It is also aligned with the Group's industry leadership as one of the founding members of the government-mandated Presidential Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) under the Digital Infrastructure Pillar, and in support of the Government's nationwide digitalization thrust.

This also contributes to the Group’s endeavors to provide connectivity to all and to anchor initiatives on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG), particularly on SDG No. 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.

PLDT, Smart warn of AI-generated child abuse materials

PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) advocate for stronger cooperation among peers and the government to combat online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) as criminals turn to new technologies to share child abuse imagery online. 

“PLDT and Smart urge fellow child rights and child safety advocates to work together to come up with impactful anti-OSAEC programs that are adaptive to the rapidly changing environment,” said Angel Redoble, Chief Information Security Officer of PLDT and Smart. 

In the recent ‘Anti-trafficking in Persons Summit with Private Sector: Ensuring Digital Spaces for Children’ convened by the InterAgency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) led by the Department of Justice (DOJ), Redoble warned about the emerging threat of Artificial Intelligence or AI-generated child sexual abuse and exploitation materials (CSAEM). 

The UK-based Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has confirmed the sighting of AI-generated child sexual abuse images. Of the 29 reports it investigated between May 24 and June 30, the organization confirmed seven URLs (uniform resource locators) containing AI-generated CSAEM. IWF further says that some examples are so life-like they would be indistinguishable from real imagery to most people. 

“This development not only poses a challenge to the technology side of counteracting OSAEC, but it also tests the limits of our laws in addressing the menace,” added Redoble. 

PLDT and Smart’s membership to the IWF has been a vital cog in their pioneering Child Protection Platform which blocks CSAEM at the content level. IWF regularly provides ‘hashes’ to the PLDT Group which it blocks in real time. 

PLDT and Smart’s blocking tool houses a massive vault of OSAEC-related URLs containing more than 660,000 links that have been blocked from the PLDT and Smart network, preventing customers from accessing them. In the first half of the year, their Cyber Security Operations Group (CSOG) managed to block more than a million attempts to open sites that host child sexual abuse imagery. 

The PLDT Group’s initiatives to protect children online underscore its thrust to ensure product safety and the cyber security of its customers and end-users. These efforts also contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goal No. 16 which promotes just, peaceful, and inclusive societies including the end to abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

Embrace Your Digital Self with Vana: Exploring the Vanaverse

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology and data, Vana emerges as an innovative AI-powered platform, revolutionizing the way users interact with their digital identities. Through Vana's cutting-edge technology, users can now reclaim control of their personal data, create their unique Virtual DNA (VNA), and delve into the vast Vanaverse – a dynamic digital universe of endless possibilities.

Vana, accessible through its website www.vana.com, is more than just another data management platform. It empowers users to break free from the traditional constraints of data ownership and instead, embraces a novel approach where data becomes a tool for self-expression and exploration. With Vana, users can curate their Virtual DNA, encapsulating various aspects of their identity, interests, and preferences to build a true representation of their digital selves.

The journey begins as users delve into the Vanaverse, a realm where the digital and physical intertwine, creating a new era of interconnectedness. In this expansive universe, users can explore, simulate, and interact in diverse realities, all driven by their Virtual DNA. It is a space where imagination knows no bounds, and self-discovery takes on a new meaning.

Beyond the allure of exploration, Vana aims to empower its users through data ownership. No longer relegated to being a mere commodity, personal data becomes a powerful instrument for self-liberation. With Vana's AI capabilities, users can harness the potential of their Virtual DNA to unlock insights, make informed decisions, and experience digital autonomy like never before.

At the heart of Vana's mission is the belief that every individual should have agency over their data and the freedom to express themselves digitally. By sharing our story on esteemed platforms, we hope to spark interest and engage audiences in conversations surrounding AI and data utilization. Through Vana's user-centric approach, the platform heralds a new era of digital empowerment and personal sovereignty.

As the world of technology advances, Vana remains at the forefront of innovation, pioneering a user-driven paradigm where data becomes a tool for creative self-expression. By venturing into the Vanaverse, users will uncover a world of endless opportunities and discover the true potential of their Virtual DNA.

Experience the transformative power of Vana and embark on a journey of self-discovery like no other. Join us in reshaping the landscape of digital identities and liberating the power of personal data. Together, let us embrace our digital selves and unlock the boundless possibilities of the Vanaverse.

Construction expert launches ‘Homeqube’ blockchain and AI-powered homebuilding platform

20 July 2023 – Hailing from a famed Filipino family of architects and contractors, Jose Paolo “JP” Calma, former CEO of the Multi-Development and Construction Corporation (MDCC), has launched Homeqube, a blockchain and AI-powered homebuilding platform that enables users to design their dream homes through its built-in network of architects, engineers, contractors, suppliers, and manufacturers.

With his extensive background in system architecture and interior construction, Calma's first-hand perspective of the complex issues within the homebuilding industry prompted him to build a decentralized online platform that makes homebuilding accessible to all.

“Homeqube is designed to solve persistent problems within the industry, such as long lead times, staggering inefficiencies in the design process, the overreliance on human labor, unsustainable raw materials, and not to mention the huge gap between e-commerce and the sector,” Calma said.

The blockchain and AI-powered homebuilding platform features user-centric controls or "knobs" based on a deconstruction philosophy where various combinations of designs can be created from basic system parts. Users can explore cost, lifestyle, and mobility metrics by adjusting these knobs, helping them to make informed home design and building decisions.

Other key features include optical character recognition (OCR) for automatic lot area plotting, agile design, and auto-generation of essential documents before move-in.

Using the platform’s standard QUBE token and gamification approach, users can earn tokens every time their created part and design are recognized and accepted by the Homeqube system, participate in design game challenges, and eventually sell their designs as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) once they become community members.

As such, the platform also features a Solana-based launchpad and NFT marketplace for homebuilding needs from home designs, home system algorithms, decors, furniture, fixtures, prototypes, and augmented reality (AR) overlays. It is the first NFT marketplace that accepts a wide array of 3D printing files, including parametric data and generative art.

"Drawing on the principles of strategic information architecture and the power of peer collaboration, Homeqube revolutionizes the industry. There's no need for traditional e-commerce 'add to cart' processes. With our platform, we introduce an innovative approach where commercial satisfaction can be achieved through engaging and interactive experiences. We're also paving the way for seamless fiat ramping,” the Homeqube CEO said.

According to Calma, the platform serves as a hub for industry professionals, from manufacturers and engineers to interior designers and plumbers, where they can enrich their practices or kickstart their businesses.

This Travel App Didn’t Crash During Taylor Swift’s Singapore Ticket Sales - Here’s How Klook Made It Out of the Woods

Taguig City, 17 July 2023 — Whilst most ticketing platforms came unstuck with the amount of volume and demand for Taylor Swift’s world tour ticket sales, Klook, Asia’s leading travel and experiences platform, didn’t face any hiccups. 

On 7 July, Klook Experiences Packages for the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour in Singapore sold out in just hours, with Filipino Swifties securing the most tickets through the app. More than 600,000 fans across the region eagerly waited online with their Klook app, willing to spend big on bundled hotel and ticket packages, with the most extravagant package costing almost S$5,000 (roughly Php205,000). 

How exactly did the company pull this off? 

"Ticketing concerts and music events is not new to us; in fact, we have been preparing for such high-volume events even before the pandemic hit. With the pandemic-induced event hiatus, we capitalized on the opportunity to ramp up our systems, push our capabilities to new limits, and really deliver an unparalleled booking experience as we’ve seen with the successful Taylor Swift ticket sales,” shared Bernie Xiong, CTO & Co-Founder, Klook. “As a travel tech company at our core, we have honed our expertise in handling diverse travel products, from attractions to rail tickets, each with its own complexities. The accumulation of all that know-how, learnings, and experience combined with our dedicated tech team truly made this possible.” 

Robust Tech Infrastructure to Manage Over  10 Million Users Entering the Queue in 1 Second

Klook's robust infrastructure, specifically designed to handle massive traffic volumes across multiple locales, played a pivotal role in the seamless ticket sale for Taylor Swift's Singapore tour. With the ability to manage over 10 million users queueing concurrently, Klook's system proved its mettle. In fact, the platform possesses the potential to scale even further, thanks to its near real-time capacity management and resource provisioning, allowing Klook to dynamically adapt its system resources to ensure a consistently smooth user experience.

How exactly does this work? By leveraging what is known as a Content Delivery Network (CDN) system combined with Edge Computing technologies, Klook’s in-house queuing system adjusts its pass-through rate automatically to manage millions of users worldwide browsing and carting out seamlessly, ultimately creating that perfect harmonious blend of stability and queue management. The result? No crashes, with the system capable of processing over 10 million users queueing per second with thousands of successful transactions each minute. That's equivalent to filling a colossal 60,000-seat concert venue with joyful ticket holders in minutes.

Rigorous load and stress testing played a key role in Klook's ability to handle the surge in demand during peak times without compromising system performance. The platform not only handled ticket sales for the concert, it was still functioning normally for all other users who wanted to discover and book Klook’s wide range of over 500,000 experiences, hotels and mobility options. In fact, Friday tends to be one of Klook’s busiest days with customers preparing for their upcoming weekend trips or plans.

AI Powered Anti-Fraud System to Ensure a Level Playing Field for Fans

One persistent issue that often plagues consumers is the presence of ticket scalpers and bots, which severely impacts the ticket-buying and concert experience. To combat these challenges, Klook implemented an app-only approach which ensured that genuine fans tagged with a unique ID had a fair chance to secure tickets, eliminating the need for multiple devices and accounts that could strain the platform. 

By leveraging the capabilities of AI in its in-house fraud prevention and security system, Klook employs techniques such as device fingerprinting and behavior analysis to detect and mitigate suspicious activities. By closely examining user accounts and identifying anomalous behaviors, Klook's robust system can swiftly reject fraudulent orders or subject them to manual verifications, ensuring a secure ticketing process and  making it more difficult for sophisticated bots used by scalpers to operate.

These measures helped level the playing field and ensured that fans have an equal and fair opportunity to secure their Taylor Swift tickets whilst also enhancing their overall ticketing experience. 

Revolutionizing Music Tourism

These successes were not accidental but have been three years in the making for the leading travel platform. Klook already had skin in the game - developing the infrastructure to support high-traffic events such as JJ Lin and Jay Chou’s concerts.  

Klook is adding a unique angle to music tourism and revolutionising the entire booking experience.  Leveraging the company's expertise across multiple travel verticals, Klook curates and creates value-added bundles that go beyond standalone tickets. Fans can enjoy multi-day experiences and services ranging across all things play (attractions, experiences), stay (hotel nights, staycations) and move (rail, car rental or transfers), ultimately driving greater economic benefit to the host destination. Klook’s data reveals that when tourists attend a concert or event, their incremental in-destination spending can range from 4-5 times the face value of the ticket.

As for what's next? Swifties who managed to book an Experience package can look forward to more joyful things-to-do on Klook when they visit Singapore in March 2024. With musical tourism and the likes of experiential travel continuing to grow, Klook continues to push boundaries and help travelers create more moments of joy. 

Predicting the next big hit: Packworks leverages AI to forecast future trends in sari-sari stores

27 June 2023 - Packworks, a local startup that provides a business-to-business (B2B) open platform to sari-sari stores, is riding the wave of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to help sari-sari stores across the Philippines make informed decisions in stocking their shelves.

The company is using time series forecasting to capitalize on Packworks’ large and robust data on sari-sari store transactions to analyze and predict future trends in grassroots sales volumes across different locations in the country. 

Through the process, Packworks is capable of making predictions across all product categories sold in over 200,000 sari-sari stores nationwide and can run up to five years' worth of daily transaction data. The model utilizes various machine learning algorithms to identify the most accurate and reliable predictions based on its ability to anticipate and align with real-time and current data trends.

Packworks tracks down information from its broad network of sari-sari stores that use the Sari.PH Pro application, which provides store owners access to pricing tools, inventory management, sales and revenue tracking, and working capital loans.

By leveraging AI and machine learning, Packworks aims to provide stores with additional information that can enhance their inventory planning processes. Retailers can gain a better understanding of consumer preferences and purchasing patterns through the model, leading to optimized product assortments, reduced stockouts, improved customer satisfaction, and increased profitability for the stores.

"With access to Packworks' extensive and reliable dataset of sari-sari store transactions, we hope to equip our saripreneurs with the means to optimize their operations and drive growth in the highly competitive retail market," Packworks Advanced Analytics and Insights Manager Arch Tesorero said.

Packworks emphasizes that while the model serves as a valuable tool for sari-sari store owners, it should be regarded as a supplementary resource rather than the sole determinant for inventory planning. 

Last year, Packworks announced the launch of its business intelligence tool Sari IQ, which provides real-time and historic information on consumer expenditures and can be customized to generate evaluations for various product categories sold in compact retail setups. It enables retailers and multinational brands complete visibility into sari-sari stores' operations, allowing them to extend their slow-moving products and services to a wider pool of customers. Analysis through the platform also helps them come up with data-driven decisions to boost sales of sari-sari store owners by understanding and predicting consumer demand within their area.

Department of Trade & Industry, Microsoft launch AI Pilipinas Coalition

Manila, Philippines, 19 October 2020-  Together with Microsoft, the Makati Business Club (MBC), Infocomm Technology Association of the Philippines (ITAP), Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), Women’s Business Council Philippines, and the US-ASEAN Business Council Inc., in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), announced the formation of the AI Pilipinas Coalition recently. Bringing together key organizations and leaders in government and the private sector, the Coalition endeavors to empower people and organizations through the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Across public and private sectors, industries, and communities, AI will play a key role in helping the Philippines respond to, and recover from COVID-19, build resiliency, and increase its competitiveness on the global stage in the years to come. The AI Pilipinas Coalition was formed to address the need for its responsible adoption in the country. It jumpstarts on both local and national levels, to explore AI capabilities that can spark positive transformation and digital acceleration for Filipinos, founded on a clear roadmap and framework of execution in the form of its AI Action Agenda.

Designed and co-authored by the entire Coalition, the AI Action Agenda will help frame its national effort through six key pillar actions:

·       Establish a clear mandate from the highest level of government for Philippines’ AI vision

·       Define clear roles and responsibilities with government

·       Build trust in AI by encouraging the implementation of responsible AI

·       Support data-driven innovation that is central to AI

·       Provide legal and regulatory clarity to encourage responsibly use of AI

·       Prepare the workforce for the AI economy

During the launch, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez emphasized the critical role technology will play in the nation’s economic recovery, adding that AI in particular is poised to make a significant contribution to enabling Filipino individuals and enterprises for the future. 

“A number of startups in the country are offering AI solutions to consumers and businesses. And they are accelerating the integration of AI technologies and tools in day-to-day transactions, making them more accessible to the public," Sec. Lopez said.

He added, "But even as there is an increase in the use of AI and other Industry 4.0 technologies, our industries have yet to harness the benefits of such technologies and overcome key challenges to their adoption.  The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) intends to continue supporting our industries in addressing these barriers, like the lack of financial and technical capacity and our poor infrastructure. "

Recent years have seen AI move increasingly into mainstream products thanks to a confluence of factors: the massive computing power of the cloud, the availability of enormous datasets that can be used to teach AI systems, breakthroughs in developing AI algorithms and improvements in AI methods such as deep learning. With far-reaching impacts permeating all areas of society and economy, a study by McKinsey estimates that globally, AI techniques will have the potential to create between $3.5 trillion and $5.8 trillion in value annually.

Microsoft’s AI tools and technologies are used in workplaces, classrooms, home offices, research labs and manufacturing facilities around the world, empowering everyone from students to factory workers. Powered by its Azure cloud, people and institutions around the world can do things like better understand their customers, share information more quickly and enable scientific breakthroughs.

“AI is a defining technology of our time. We are working to make it accessible to every individual and organization in the country, infusing AI into what we do, in order to amplify ingenuity with intelligent technology,” said Microsoft Philippines country general manager Andres Ortola. “These tools and breakthroughs must be inclusive, available to everyone, and as AI systems become more mainstream, we believe that we all have a shared responsibility to create trusted AI systems—to work together to reach consensus about what principles and values should govern AI development and use.”

Carlo Subido, president of ITAP, embraces and advocates advances in AI. “This coalition sets the path to promoting responsible AI,” said Subido. “Today is a good start but there is still a lot of work to be done. We, in the private sector – the businesses, the academe, our citizens, together with the government – need to frame our national effort to build a strong foundation for AI. We support data driven innovation that is central to AI. We have a lot of talents here in the Philippines so there is no reason we cannot play globally in AI.”

For his part, Coco Alcuaz, Makati Business Club executive director said, "The business sector and business orgs need to be responsive to technological and economic change. We have to embrace AI and its potential applications. This Coalition, which welcomes other businesses and organizations, represents the business sector's commitment to promote national and economic development through responsible AI."

Trust is the foundation of Microsoft’s work in AI from its principled approach anchored on human-centered design, fairness, inclusiveness, reliability & safety, transparency, privacy & security, and accountability, to the shared responsibility it creates with customers and partners by providing practical guidance, best practices and tools to enable the responsible creation of AI.