Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries worldwide, but Philippine businesses are still lagging in adoption, prompting GCash to rally government, regulators and the private sector behind a faster, safer digital transformation.
At its fifth iGnite Innovation Summit, the fintech giant called for broader AI adoption and stronger cybersecurity collaboration as only 14.9 percent of Philippine firms currently use AI, based on research by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies. The figure underscores the country’s slow uptake of a technology increasingly viewed as essential for competitiveness rather than a future investment.
The summit gathered technology executives, policymakers, regulators and industry leaders to explore how AI can improve financial services, enhance productivity and build greater trust in the country’s fast-growing digital economy.
“Innovation is not just about adopting the latest technology. It is about bringing the right people together to solve real problems,” said Pebbles Sy, Mynt chief technology and operations officer.
Sy said iGnite aims to connect global experts, innovators and regulators to develop practical solutions that strengthen digital trust while helping businesses translate emerging technologies into real-world applications.
Keynote speaker Sen. Bam Aquino said governments and businesses can no longer afford to overlook AI and data-driven decision-making, noting that fintech-generated insights can help policymakers better understand the needs of Filipinos and craft more responsive policies.
The event also spotlighted cybersecurity through the inaugural GSafe The Vanguards of Trust summit, where experts discussed rising cyber threats, AI-enabled fraud and stronger defenses for digital financial services.
“Cybersecurity is the foundation of digital trust,” said GCash Chief Information Security Officer Miguel Geronilla. “As more Filipinos embrace digital financial services, protecting their accounts, transactions and personal information remains our highest priority.”
The twin focus on AI adoption and cybersecurity reflects a growing reality for Philippine businesses. As digitalization accelerates across industries, competitive advantage will increasingly depend not only on deploying AI, but on doing so securely enough to earn and retain consumer trust.
