The preliminary results of the Philippine AI Ecosystem Report were unveiled last Thursday at Geeks on a Beach(GOAB) 2025, the country's leading international tech and startup conference held at JPark Island Resort in Mactan, #Cebu.
Led by AI technology expert Tim Santos, the report provides the most detailed insight into how artificial intelligence is being adopted and developed in the Philippines. It combines surveys and expert opinions from over 100 senior leaders, managers, and practitioners across various industries, offering a comprehensive snapshot of the country's AI landscape.
Executive-led, pilot-heavy
The report found that AI strategy in the Philippines is predominantly executive-led, with 61 percent of companies placing AI oversight in the hands of senior executives. Santos pointed out that while this buy-in is encouraging, it often results in a policy-first, execution-later mindset driven by fear of missing out rather than clear roadmaps.
Most AI projects remain at the pilot stage, with 58 percent of respondents primarily involved in proof-of-concept initiatives. “Ambition exists, but execution is frequently FOMO-driven,” Santos noted, highlighting a mismatch between ambition and available resources like talent, budget, and infrastructure, which hinders progress beyond pilots.
Employees are experiencing considerable benefits from AI, with 76 percent stating that AI enables them to spend more time on strategic thinking, and 63 percent noting that it allows for faster decision-making. Additionally, employees have pointed out a reduction in administrative tasks, less time spent on writing, and increased opportunities for innovation.
Yet significant barriers persist in AI adoption. The report identifies a lack of AI skills and knowledge (57 percent) as the primary challenge, followed by concerns about security, unrealistic expectations, and employee resistance.
“The challenge of adopting AI is the most pressing. While employees are optimistic, organizational inertia often hinders collaboration and the broader implementation of AI initiatives,” said Santos.
Conservative spending, limited scale
The report revealed that most organizations remain conservative in their spending on AI, with the majority investing less than ₱10 million (approximately USD 170,000) annually. Only a few companies allocate larger budgets for infrastructure and scaling.
The adoption of AI is currently strongest in “back office” workflows, with 73 percent of organizations using it for data analysis, 64 percent for automating repetitive tasks, and 59 percent for content generation. These functions are often integrated through general-purpose AI chat platforms, serving as accessible entry points for broader adoption.
However, deeper integration into customer-facing systems and decision-making processes is still limited. Only 30 percent of respondents reported using AI for forecasting and decision-making, and even fewer have explored developer-oriented use cases, such as AI-assisted coding.
“There seems to be a mismatch between ambition and available resources, including financial and talent resources, which could limit firms' ability to scale beyond pilot projects,” said Santos. “The more widely adopted use cases are currently driven by personal efficiency gains, while deeper, core business process integration remains a significant growth opportunity,” he adds.
Building the future of Philippine AI
The presentation of preliminary findings at GOAB aligns with the conference's mission to act as a launchpad for ideas that will shape the future of technology in the country.
“Geeks on a Beach has always aimed to spark conversations that lead to meaningful action,” said Tina Amper, the lead organizer of GOAB. “We believe that AI is the next frontier for innovation in the Philippines. The report’s findings can serve as a starting point for collaboration among the industry, government, and the startup community,” she said.
The report recommends that organizations move beyond pilot projects and focus on scaling their AI initiatives. “Companies need clear roadmaps that connect early experiments to scalable deployments. They should prioritize initiatives that address the friction points hindering progress,” said Santos. It encouraged partnering with experts who understand both strategy and execution to bridge the current gap between planning and implementation.
The report also emphasized the necessity of enhancing the strategic value of AI. Currently, most adoption focuses primarily on efficiency improvements, such as faster decision-making and reduced administrative tasks. “AI is already saving time,” Santos noted, “but leadership teams must now translate these successes into cost savings, productivity gains, and revenue growth.”
The complete Philippine AI Ecosystem Report will be released later this year at PhilippineAIReport.com.
About Geeks on a Beach
Geeks on a Beach is the Philippines’ pioneering beachside international tech and startup conference, launched in 2013. Known for its unique blend of serious conversations in a fun, laid-back environment, GOAB has connected thousands of entrepreneurs, investors, developers, creatives, and policymakers. Over the years, GOAB has helped catalyze deals, investments, and partnerships that continue to shape the Philippine and Southeast Asian startup landscape.
This year’s GOAB was held on October 1-3, 2025, at JPark Island Resort Hotel in Mactan, Cebu. It is organized by the non-profit group geeksPH with the support of its foundational government partner, the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT).