What happened
SGV & Co. and EY hosted the 2026 Philippine CEO Outlook on March 6, convening business leaders and policymakers to discuss AI's impact. SGV's Noel Rabaja presented findings showing CEOs recognise AI will fundamentally reshape decision-making and competition. ADB's Pratish Halady highlighted AI's potential for ASEAN's 70 million MSMEs, democratising advanced analytics. DTI Assistant Secretary Nylah Rizza Bautista announced initiatives, including an upcoming DTI AI and Startup Center, to strengthen the country's AI ecosystem.
Why it matters
Access to advanced AI capabilities will shift for ASEAN's 70 million MSMEs, previously limited to large corporations. Procurement teams and founders must prioritise investment in AI infrastructure, now recognised as a new economic infrastructure, to unlock productivity gains in dynamic pricing and supply chain management. This contrasts with recent research indicating AI fails to boost macro productivity, highlighting potential for targeted MSME benefits. Regional cooperation, like the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, becomes critical for harmonising AI governance and enabling cross-border digital markets.
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