PLDT pushes responsible AI for livelihood opportunities

MANILA, Philippines — Telco giant PLDT Inc. has committed to invest in artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that would create opportunities rather than replace them, underscoring that automation is no longer a matter of if, but when.

At the Philippine Telecom Summit 2026, PLDT chief operating officer Menardo Jimenez Jr. said the telco is pushing for an accessible and smarter use of AI tools in the Philippines.

PLDT owns the country’s largest data center, VITRO Sta. Rosa, which offers 50 megawatts of capacity and can handle AI workloads.

The facility houses Pilipinas AI, developed by Dell Technologies Inc. and Katonic AI, designed to build AI models for local businesses. This way, enterprises no longer have to put up their own infrastructure to create AI tools for operations.

On top of this, Jimenez said PLDT is providing community-based training for AI adoption. The program, launched in 2025, seeks to demystify AI to help learners and organizations understand how automation can be maximized for practical uses.

“AI is going to happen whether we like it or not; the real question is how we respond,” Jimenez said.

“If we embrace it and learn how to use it, AI can help to protect or diversify your job, open new opportunities and make people more productive,” he added.

Jimenez pointed to the AI tools that are useful to students and workers, such as transcription apps that can convert audio to text in seconds and video editors that can piece together different media for content creation.

For PLDT, these solutions can also lower the barriers for startups, allowing them to reach a wider market on limited resources. For small and medium enterprises, Jimenez advised them to turn to productivity tools to complete workflows, which once took days to complete, in minutes.

“There are AI applications today that are affordable, easy to use and immediately useful. The key is helping people understand which tools make sense for them and giving them the confidence to try,” Jimenez said.