The Philippines has officially entered the era of sovereign artificial intelligence with the launch of Pilipinas AI, the country’s first locally hosted AI platform, developed by ePLDT in partnership with Dell Technologies and Katonic AI.
According to ePLDT President and CEO Victor S. Genuino, this platform was designed to ensure that Filipino enterprises can adopt AI technology without relying on foreign-hosted systems, thus keeping sensitive data secure within the country’s borders.
The initiative is aligned with the Philippine government’s AI Roadmap, supported by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), which emphasizes digital sovereignty and national competitiveness in emerging technologies.
Pilipinas AI will provide businesses with tools for machine learning, predictive analytics, and automation, enabling industries such as banking, healthcare, manufacturing, and telecommunications to innovate and scale efficiently. The platform also offers data localization and regulatory compliance, ensuring that companies meet privacy and security requirements under Philippine law.
Industry experts note that this launch marks a significant step for the Philippines in establishing technological independence and positioning itself as a serious player in the global AI landscape. By building sovereign AI capacity, the country reduces dependency on foreign tech providers while nurturing local innovation ecosystems and homegrown talent.
ePLDT and its partners emphasized that Pilipinas AI is not only about technology adoption but also about nation-building, as it empowers Filipino enterprises to compete in the digital economy while safeguarding data sovereignty.
This milestone reflects how public-private collaboration can accelerate the Philippines’ transformation into a digitally resilient and future-ready nation, proving that AI is no longer a distant concept but an essential tool for inclusive progress.
