PLDT Inc. is stepping up efforts to support artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in universities and communities, as industries accelerate the use of machine-assisted technologies.
Blums Pineda, SVP and head of Enterprise Business Group at PLDT and Smart, said educational institutions will play a key role in preparing the workforce for an AI-driven economy.
“Artificial intelligence is not just another technology cycle,” Pineda said. “It’s a general-purpose technology like electricity or the internet—one that changes how entire industries operate and how professionals do their work.”
The shift carries particular significance for the Philippines, where the economy relies heavily on services and knowledge-based work. Studies show that while 25% to 35% of jobs may be exposed to AI at the task level, only 3% to 5% face a high risk of full displacement.
“What we’re seeing is not the disappearance of human roles,” Pineda said. “AI handles repetitive tasks, while people focus on decision-making, relationships, and solving more complex problems.”
The transition is already visible in the country’s IT-BPM sector, where AI tools are being used to streamline tasks such as summarizing interactions and retrieving information, allowing workers to move into higher-value roles.
Pineda said universities must adapt quickly as AI tools become embedded in fields from software development to healthcare.
“Every technological revolution eventually walks into a classroom,” he said. “The difference with AI is that it didn’t politely wait for curriculum committees. It has already arrived.”
PLDT, through subsidiaries ePLDT and VITRO Inc., is investing in infrastructure to support AI adoption, including hyperscale data centers designed for high-performance workloads.
“The invisible infrastructure behind AI—fiber networks, computing power, and data centers—will determine how quickly institutions can innovate,” Pineda said.
The group is also expanding access through initiatives such as AI-in-a-Box, which combines training, connectivity, and tools for institutions.
“Technology only transforms society when ordinary institutions can use it,” Pineda said.
