EastWest Launches ECHO AI Chatbot for Business Banking

EastWest Launches ECHO AI Chatbot for Business Banking

Friday, August 7, 2026

EastWest Banking Corporation has introduced ECHO (EastWest CMS Help Officer), an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot designed to help business owners quickly find information about the bank's Cash Management Services.

The digital assistant aims to simplify access to banking solutions for companies by answering questions about collections, payments, payroll, and cash flow management while connecting users with EastWest specialists for more personalized support when needed.

The launch reflects a growing trend among financial institutions to use AI-powered tools to improve customer service and help businesses access banking services more efficiently.

What is ECHO?

ECHO (EastWest CMS Help Officer) is an AI-powered chatbot that serves as a digital guide for businesses exploring EastWest's cash management solutions.

Rather than replacing human support, the chatbot helps users understand available services, recommends solutions based on business needs, and directs customers to an EastWest Sales Officer for further assistance.

The goal is to reduce the time business owners spend searching for information so they can focus on running their operations.

What can ECHO help businesses with?

The chatbot provides guidance on several key financial management functions, including:

• Business collections
• Digital payments
• Payroll solutions
• Cash flow management
• Cash Management Services recommendations
• Connections to EastWest Sales Officers

By centralizing information in a conversational interface, ECHO offers entrepreneurs a faster way to learn about banking products without navigating multiple webpages or waiting for business hours.

Why cash management matters for growing businesses

As companies expand, managing daily financial transactions often becomes more complex.

Cash management refers to the tools and services businesses use to monitor incoming payments, process outgoing transactions, manage payroll, and maintain healthy cash flow.

Efficient cash management can help businesses:

• Improve operational efficiency
• Reduce manual financial processes
• Monitor liquidity more effectively
• Streamline employee payroll
• Simplify collections and supplier payments

For many small and medium-sized businesses, adopting digital banking tools can free up time for business development instead of administrative work.

AI becomes part of modern business banking

Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming part of everyday banking, extending beyond consumer chatbots to support business customers.

Financial institutions now use AI to assist with customer inquiries, personalize product recommendations, automate routine requests, and improve response times.

For entrepreneurs, these tools can provide quicker access to information without replacing personalized advice from relationship managers or banking specialists.

EastWest says ECHO's knowledge base will continue to expand, allowing the chatbot to provide more relevant recommendations as customer needs evolve.

Supporting the digital shift among Philippine businesses

The launch comes as more Filipino entrepreneurs embrace digital platforms for business registration, financial management, and daily operations.

Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) account for the overwhelming majority of businesses in the Philippines and remain a major driver of employment and economic activity.

As these businesses continue to digitize, demand has grown for banking platforms that offer faster access to information and more convenient financial tools.

EastWest positions ECHO as part of its broader digitalization strategy aimed at making business banking more accessible and responsive to customer needs.

Business owners often need immediate answers when managing payroll, payments, or collections. AI-powered assistants like ECHO can help bridge information gaps by providing guidance around the clock while reducing the effort required to find relevant banking solutions.

Although digital assistants cannot replace financial advice tailored to a company's specific circumstances, they can serve as a practical first point of contact for entrepreneurs exploring available services.

With the launch of ECHO, EastWest is expanding its digital banking offerings for businesses by providing an AI-powered assistant focused on cash management solutions. As Philippine enterprises continue embracing digital operations, tools that simplify access to financial information could become an increasingly valuable part of everyday business banking.

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LG Earns NVIDIA Validation for AI Data Center Cooling

LG Earns NVIDIA Validation for AI Data Center Cooling

Monday, August 3, 2026

As artificial intelligence (AI) workloads continue to grow, data centers are facing a new challenge: keeping increasingly powerful AI processors cool without sacrificing performance or reliability. To address this demand, LG Electronics has achieved NVIDIA validation for its 600-kilowatt (kW) Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU), a milestone that supports the company's expansion into the rapidly growing AI infrastructure market.

The validation confirms that LG's liquid cooling solution meets NVIDIA's technical requirements for AI Factory infrastructure, giving hyperscale data center operators greater confidence when selecting cooling systems for high-density AI environments.

What did LG achieve?

LG Electronics announced that its 600kW Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU) successfully passed NVIDIA's technical validation process after meeting more than 100 evaluation criteria covering cooling performance, system reliability, and failover capabilities.

The validation positions LG among a select group of technology providers whose cooling solutions have been verified for compatibility with NVIDIA's AI infrastructure standards.

For enterprise customers and hyperscale data center operators, this designation can help simplify supplier qualification and reduce deployment risks for large-scale AI facilities.

What is a Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU)?

A Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU) is a critical component in liquid-cooled data centers.

A CDU circulates coolant through servers to remove heat generated by high-performance processors such as graphics processing units (GPUs) and central processing units (CPUs). By maintaining stable operating temperatures, it helps AI systems run efficiently while reducing the risk of overheating.

As AI computing becomes more demanding, liquid cooling is increasingly being adopted because traditional air-cooling systems alone may no longer provide sufficient thermal management for dense AI server deployments.

How does LG's cooling system work?

LG's validated CDU uses a Direct-to-Chip (DTC) liquid cooling approach, which delivers coolant directly to heat-producing components inside AI servers.

Unlike conventional cooling methods that rely primarily on circulating cold air throughout a facility, Direct-to-Chip cooling removes heat at its source before it spreads through the system.

LG describes the solution as a hybrid cooling system, combining liquid cooling with existing air-cooling infrastructure to improve overall thermal efficiency.

According to the company, the system offers:

• Temperature control with ±0.25°C precision
• Real-time monitoring through virtual sensor technology
• Leak detection capabilities
• Predictive control using LG's Data Center Cooling Control Manager (DCCM)
• Integration with existing data center management systems through standard communication protocols

These capabilities are designed to help operators monitor cooling performance while supporting continuous AI server operations.

Why liquid cooling is becoming more important

Modern AI models require significantly greater computing power than traditional enterprise applications.

Training and operating large AI models often involve clusters of specialized GPUs that consume substantial amounts of electricity and generate large amounts of heat.

Liquid cooling is increasingly viewed as an effective solution because it can:

• Remove heat more efficiently than air alone
• Support higher server densities
• Improve energy efficiency
• Help maintain stable hardware performance
• Reduce the risk of thermal-related system interruptions

As organizations invest in AI infrastructure, efficient thermal management has become an important factor in maintaining system reliability and operational costs.

Supporting AI infrastructure from chip to chiller

LG says it is pursuing a "Chip-to-Chiller" strategy that covers multiple components of AI cooling infrastructure rather than focusing on a single product.

Its portfolio includes:

• Chillers - Produce chilled water for cooling systems
• Coolant Distribution Units (CDUs) - Circulate coolant throughout the cooling network
• Cold plates - Transfer heat directly away from AI processors

The company also operates a dedicated validation facility in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, where complete cooling systems are tested under varying operating conditions to evaluate temperature stability, transient responses, and failover performance.

Expanding beyond the 600kW system

LG plans to pursue NVIDIA validation for additional high-capacity CDUs, including:

• 1MW CDU
• 2.5MW CDU
• 4MW CDU

These larger systems are intended to support the increasing scale of next-generation AI data centers.

The company also noted that it has secured cooling projects for hyperscale facilities in North America and the SM+ Data Center in Jakarta, Indonesia, reflecting growing demand for AI-ready cooling infrastructure.

As AI adoption accelerates, data center infrastructure has become a strategic area of investment for technology companies.

While much public attention focuses on AI software and chips, supporting infrastructure—including networking, power management, and cooling—is equally important for ensuring reliable AI operations.

Industry analysts increasingly view liquid cooling as a key technology for future AI facilities because higher-performance processors require more advanced thermal management than conventional enterprise servers.

For LG, NVIDIA's validation strengthens its position in this evolving market by demonstrating compatibility with widely used AI computing platforms.

LG Electronics' NVIDIA validation for its 600kW Coolant Distribution Unit marks an important step in the company's expansion into AI infrastructure. By meeting NVIDIA's technical standards for AI Factory cooling, LG reinforces its strategy of providing end-to-end thermal management solutions for high-density AI data centers.

As enterprises and cloud providers continue investing in AI computing, technologies that improve cooling efficiency, reliability, and scalability are expected to play an increasingly important role in supporting the next generation of data center operations.

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PLDT Enterprise Pushes Resilience-First AI Strategy

PLDT Enterprise Pushes Resilience-First AI Strategy

Digital transformation has become a business imperative, but as organizations adopt artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and connected technologies, they also face greater exposure to cyber threats and operational disruptions. According to PLDT Enterprise, the next phase of digital transformation should focus not only on innovation but also on building resilient organizations that can continue operating when disruptions occur.

Through a series of industry forums, executive workshops, and advisory sessions, PLDT Enterprise is encouraging business leaders to integrate cybersecurity, business continuity, and AI governance into their long-term digital strategies rather than treating them as separate initiatives.

Why is digital resilience becoming a business priority?

For many organizations, digital transformation has traditionally meant modernizing IT systems, migrating to the cloud, and automating business processes.

PLDT Enterprise argues that these initiatives must now be complemented by digital and cyber resilience—the ability of an organization to anticipate, withstand, respond to, and recover from cyber incidents and operational disruptions.

According to Alexis Bernardino, Principal CXO Advisor and Head of the CXO Advisory at PLDT Enterprise, organizations need to evaluate whether their systems, people, and operations can remain secure, trusted, and available even during disruptive events.

This resilience-focused approach spans several areas, including:

• Connectivity infrastructure
• Network architecture
• Cloud platforms
• Cybersecurity
• Data protection
• Artificial intelligence

What is digital resilience?

Digital resilience refers to an organization's ability to maintain critical business operations despite cyberattacks, system failures, natural disasters, or other disruptions.

Unlike traditional cybersecurity, which primarily focuses on preventing attacks, digital resilience also emphasizes:

• Business continuity
• Rapid incident response
• System recovery
• Operational availability
• Customer trust
• Long-term organizational readiness

As businesses increasingly depend on digital platforms, resilience has become an important component of enterprise risk management.

Bringing resilience discussions to industry leaders

PLDT Enterprise has been sharing its resilience framework through several major industry events, including:

• Gov Excellence Summit 2026
• Cyber Resilience Summit 2026
• Digital Next Philippines 2026
• Philippines Agentic AI Forum (upcoming)

These engagements build upon the company's broader initiatives, including:

• Preemptive Cyber Defense discussions
• Data Exposure Defense Workshop
• CXO Cyber and Digital Resilience Masterclass

The forums bring together executives from government, banking, telecommunications, public services, large enterprises, and small and medium-sized businesses to discuss practical approaches to digital transformation and cybersecurity.

Why cybersecurity is now a business issue

One of the key themes emphasized by PLDT Enterprise is that cybersecurity should no longer be viewed solely as an IT responsibility.

Instead, it should be integrated into broader business decision-making because cyber incidents can affect customer experience, revenue generation, regulatory compliance, business continuity, brand reputation, and public trust.

This shift reflects a broader industry trend in which executive leadership increasingly participates in cybersecurity planning alongside technology teams.

What is preemptive cyber defense?

PLDT Enterprise is also promoting what it describes as preemptive cyber defense, an approach that focuses on identifying vulnerabilities before they develop into major security incidents.

Rather than reacting after a cyberattack occurs, organizations are encouraged to continuously evaluate questions such as:

1. Where are the organization's most critical vulnerabilities?
2. Which services must remain operational during an incident?
3. How quickly can threats be detected?
4. How efficiently can systems recover after disruption?

The objective is to reduce business risk by strengthening security posture before systems are compromised.

What is Agentic AI?

One of the emerging technologies discussed by PLDT Enterprise is Agentic AI.

Agentic AI refers to artificial intelligence systems capable of performing more autonomous tasks by planning, making decisions, executing actions, and optimizing workflows with limited human intervention.

Unlike traditional AI tools that mainly generate recommendations or analyze data, Agentic AI is designed to carry out sequences of business processes while adapting to changing conditions.

PLDT Enterprise expects discussions at the upcoming Philippines Agentic AI Forum to focus on helping organizations move beyond AI experimentation toward practical enterprise applications that deliver measurable business outcomes.

Balancing AI innovation with governance

While AI creates new opportunities for automation and operational efficiency, it also introduces additional cybersecurity challenges.

PLDT Enterprise notes that AI can be used by both attackers and defenders.

Potential enterprise applications include:

• Faster threat detection
• Automated incident response
• Operational optimization
• Workflow automation
• Intelligent decision support

However, successful implementation also requires strong governance, secure infrastructure, appropriate controls, and reliable data architecture.

This integrated approach seeks to ensure that AI adoption supports both innovation and organizational resilience.

As Philippine businesses accelerate digital adoption, resilience is becoming a strategic advantage rather than simply a technical requirement.

Organizations capable of maintaining operations during cyber incidents or infrastructure disruptions are generally better positioned to protect customer trust, minimize downtime, and sustain long-term growth.

For many business leaders, this means expanding digital transformation strategies to include cybersecurity, operational continuity, and AI readiness from the outset.

PLDT Enterprise is positioning resilience as a central element of digital transformation in the AI era. Through industry engagements and executive advisory programs, the company is encouraging organizations to view cybersecurity, business continuity, cloud infrastructure, and AI governance as interconnected components of modern enterprise strategy.

As AI continues to reshape business operations, organizations that invest in resilience alongside innovation may be better equipped to adapt to evolving cyber risks while maintaining secure, reliable, and trusted digital services.

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Lenovo Showcases AI at FIFA World Cup 2026 Through Enterprise-Scale Technology Deployment

Lenovo Showcases AI at FIFA World Cup 2026 Through Enterprise-Scale Technology Deployment

Artificial intelligence played a larger role than ever at the FIFA World Cup 2026, extending beyond player analytics to broadcasting, officiating, and tournament operations. As FIFA's Official Technology Partner, Lenovo delivered the digital infrastructure and AI-powered solutions that supported what organizers described as the tournament's largest and most technologically complex edition to date.

Hosted across three countries, 16 cities, 48 national teams, and 104 matches, the tournament required an extensive technology ecosystem to support operations, broadcasting, team performance analysis, and fan engagement. According to Lenovo, its systems maintained 99.99% uptime throughout the competition while supporting hundreds of venues and operational sites.

How did Lenovo support the FIFA World Cup 2026?

Lenovo's involvement extended far beyond supplying hardware.

The company deployed an integrated technology ecosystem that included:

• More than 25,000 Lenovo and Motorola devices
• Over 350 engineers and operational specialists
• Support across 600 FIFA locations
• AI-powered analytics platforms
• Broadcast technologies
• Tournament operations systems
• Data center infrastructure
• Managed IT services

The deployment supported stadiums, broadcast centers, team base camps, command centers, and FIFA operational facilities throughout the tournament.

What is FIFA AI Pro?

One of the tournament's most notable innovations was FIFA AI Pro, an artificial intelligence platform jointly developed by Lenovo and FIFA.

Definition

FIFA AI Pro is an AI-powered football analytics platform that enables coaches and analysts to access official match data, performance metrics, and video analysis using natural-language queries.

Unlike traditional analytics systems available only to elite football organizations, FIFA AI Pro was made available to all 48 participating teams, helping broaden access to advanced performance insights during the tournament.

Built using Lenovo's AI Factory and enterprise AI technologies, the platform:

• Processed millions of football data points
• Analyzed more than 2,000 performance metrics
• Generated reports, graphs, video clips, and 3D match recreations
• Supported 16 languages
• Recorded thousands of queries from over 300 users during the tournament

How AI changed the viewing experience

Artificial intelligence also influenced how fans experienced matches.

Referee View

Lenovo introduced Referee View, a broadcast feature that used AI-powered video stabilization to transform body-camera footage worn by referees into smooth, broadcast-quality video.

The technology reduced camera shake by up to 60%, creating immersive first-person perspectives during live matches. According to Lenovo-commissioned research cited in the announcement:

• 87% of fans said technology enhanced their viewing experience.
• 84% said close-up camera perspectives made them feel closer to the action.

The feature appeared throughout the tournament and generated more than 20 billion impressions, including coverage of the tournament's opening goal.

AI-assisted officiating

Artificial intelligence also supported officiating through 3D digital player avatars.

Ahead of the tournament, Lenovo created digital models of all 1,248 players competing in the World Cup. These avatars were integrated into FIFA's Semi-Automated Offside Technology, providing officials and broadcasters with more realistic visualizations of offside decisions.

The initiative aimed to improve transparency while helping fans better understand complex refereeing decisions.

Behind the scenes: AI for tournament operations

Away from the pitch, Lenovo deployed its Intelligent Command Center, a centralized operations platform supporting FIFA's Tournament Operations Center.

The system consolidated data from more than 40 operational functions, including:

• Security
• Infrastructure
• Ticketing
• Logistics
• Communications
• Venue management

By bringing operational information into a single platform, FIFA officials could monitor issues in real time and coordinate responses across multiple countries and venues.

Although showcased at one of the world's largest sporting events, many of the technologies highlighted during the FIFA World Cup have broader enterprise applications.

Large-scale sporting events often serve as testing grounds for technologies that later find commercial applications, particularly in artificial intelligence, networking, and cloud computing.

What this means for the future of AI-powered sports

The FIFA World Cup 2026 demonstrated how artificial intelligence is expanding beyond player performance analytics into nearly every aspect of sports management.

From coaching support and referee assistance to broadcasting and operational coordination, AI is becoming an integral component of modern sporting events.

For technology providers like Lenovo, the tournament also served as an opportunity to demonstrate enterprise AI capabilities under demanding real-world conditions where reliability, scalability, and security are essential.

Lenovo's technology deployment at the FIFA World Cup 2026 illustrates the growing convergence of artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, and sports operations. By supporting everything from match analysis and officiating to broadcasting and tournament management, the company showcased how AI can enhance both operational efficiency and fan engagement at global scale.

As international sporting events continue adopting advanced digital technologies, the innovations demonstrated during the tournament may also influence how businesses across industries implement AI to improve decision-making, streamline operations, and deliver more connected customer experiences.

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FIFA AI Pro Gives All 48 World Cup Teams Equal Access

FIFA AI Pro Gives All 48 World Cup Teams Equal Access

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly important part of professional sports, helping coaches analyze opponents, improve player performance, and make faster tactical decisions. At the FIFA World Cup 2026, FIFA and Lenovo have taken that concept further by making advanced AI-powered match analysis available to every participating nation through FIFA AI Pro.

The initiative marks one of the biggest technology shifts in World Cup preparation. Instead of limiting sophisticated analytics to teams with larger budgets, FIFA AI Pro gives all 48 competing nations access to the same AI-driven insights, helping level the playing field during football's biggest tournament.

Why Is FIFA AI Pro Important?

For years, detailed performance analytics have largely been available only to football federations with significant financial resources. Smaller nations often relied on limited scouting reports and manual video analysis because advanced data systems required substantial investment.

FIFA AI Pro changes that model by giving every qualified team access to a centralized AI platform capable of processing millions of data points and more than 2,000 performance metrics within minutes.

The result is faster, more informed match preparation regardless of a team's size or budget.

What Is FIFA AI Pro?

FIFA AI Pro is an AI-powered football analysis platform developed through a collaboration between FIFA and Lenovo.

Built using Lenovo's AI Factory and powered by the company's xIQ agent platform, the system coordinates multiple AI agents that search, organize, and analyze large volumes of football data.

Rather than producing simple statistical reports, FIFA AI Pro delivers:

• Tactical analysis reports
• Interactive performance graphs
• Match video clips
• Football-focused visual dashboards
• AI-generated 3D match recreations
• Contextual recommendations based on match situations

The platform also supports multilingual searches, recognizes football terminology and synonyms, performs real-time calculations, and adapts its analytical depth depending on the complexity of each query.

How AI Is Helping Coaches Make Better Decisions

Modern football generates enormous amounts of data during every match, from player positioning and passing accuracy to defensive shape and pressing intensity. Sorting through that information manually can take analysts many hours.

FIFA AI Pro automates much of this work, allowing coaching staff to spend less time searching for information and more time developing tactics and preparing players.

According to Arsène Wenger, the platform enables football experts to focus on performance insights and tactical decision-making instead of manually organizing match footage and statistical reports.

This shift reflects a broader trend across elite sports, where AI increasingly complements rather than replaces human expertise.

Underdogs Benefit From Equal Access to Analytics

The expanded 48-team format has already produced several unexpected results during the tournament.

Among the standout performances:

• Cabo Verde remained unbeaten in regular time, drawing against Spain before narrowly losing to Argentina after extra time.
• Curaçao earned a draw against Ecuador.
• DR Congo held both Colombia and Portugal.
• Ghana drew with England.
• Paraguay eliminated four-time champions Germany.

While these results cannot be attributed solely to technology, FIFA believes equal access to AI-powered match preparation has helped smaller football nations compete more effectively against traditional powerhouses.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of professional sports across football, basketball, baseball, Formula One, and other competitions.

In football, AI is increasingly being used to:

• Analyze player movement
• Identify tactical patterns
• Improve opposition scouting
• Reduce video review time
• Support coaching decisions
• Enhance player development

The introduction of FIFA AI Pro suggests that AI could eventually become a standard tool for national teams and clubs regardless of their financial resources.

If adopted more widely after the tournament, similar platforms could make elite-level football analysis more accessible throughout the sport.

Lenovo's Growing Role in Sports Technology

As FIFA's technology partner, Lenovo developed the infrastructure behind FIFA AI Pro using its enterprise AI capabilities.

The platform reflects Lenovo's broader strategy of expanding artificial intelligence beyond traditional business applications into industries such as education, healthcare, manufacturing, and now elite sports.

By combining cloud computing, AI orchestration, and sports analytics, Lenovo is demonstrating how enterprise AI can support real-world decision-making in highly competitive environments.

The launch of FIFA AI Pro represents more than a new technology platform—it reflects a changing approach to competitive football. By providing every team at the FIFA World Cup 2026 with access to advanced AI-driven analytics, FIFA and Lenovo are reducing one of the sport's long-standing competitive gaps.

Although success on the pitch will always depend on player performance, coaching, and execution, access to high-quality tactical intelligence is becoming an increasingly important part of modern football. FIFA AI Pro shows how artificial intelligence is evolving from a luxury reserved for elite teams into a shared resource that could shape the future of the game.

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Zoho Brings Agentic AI to Philippine Businesses as Demand for Enterprise AI Grows

Zoho Brings Agentic AI to Philippine Businesses as Demand for Enterprise AI Grows

Sunday, July 26, 2026

As more Philippine organizations explore artificial intelligence to improve operations, the challenge is shifting from whether to adopt AI to how to do it securely and efficiently. Zoho believes the answer lies in an integrated software platform rather than disconnected AI tools.

At its Zoholics Manila 2026 conference, Zoho announced the latest phase of its artificial intelligence strategy, introducing agentic AI capabilities designed to automate business processes while keeping data management and security within a unified ecosystem.

The announcement also reinforces Zoho's continued investment in the Philippine market, where businesses are increasingly preparing for digital transformation initiatives supported by both government policy and private-sector demand.

Why is Zoho introducing agentic AI in the Philippines?

The Philippines continues to accelerate digital transformation across both government and private sectors. National initiatives encouraging AI adoption, particularly among micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), have created stronger demand for software that combines automation, collaboration, and security.

For many organizations, however, AI adoption comes with practical concerns.

Businesses often rely on numerous cloud applications from different vendors, making information difficult to manage and increasing cybersecurity risks. Instead of adding another standalone AI solution, Zoho is positioning its platform as a way to consolidate business applications and AI capabilities into a single environment.

This approach aims to reduce operational complexity while helping organizations prepare for wider AI adoption.

What is agentic AI?

Agentic AI refers to artificial intelligence systems capable of performing tasks autonomously with minimal human intervention. Unlike traditional AI assistants that simply respond to prompts, agentic AI can execute workflows, make routine decisions based on predefined rules, and coordinate multiple business processes.

For businesses, this can translate into faster customer support, automated HR tasks, sales assistance, IT help desk functions, and workflow management.

How do Zia Agents work?

A major highlight of Zoho's announcement is Zia Agents, an AI system that allows businesses to deploy autonomous digital agents across more than 50 Zoho applications.

The platform consists of three main components:

1. Pre-built AI agents for customer support, HR, sales, IT help desks, and account management.
2. Zia Agent Studio, a no-code and low-code environment that lets businesses create customized AI agents without extensive programming.
3. Agent Marketplace, where developers and partners can publish specialized AI agents for organizations to use.

Instead of building AI solutions from scratch, businesses can deploy ready-made or customized agents depending on their operational needs.

How does Zoho One fit into the AI strategy?

Zoho also highlighted the continued evolution of Zoho One, its all-in-one business software platform that now serves more than 75,000 organizations globally.

Rather than treating AI as a separate product, Zoho integrates AI features directly into the applications businesses already use.

One example is Ask Zia, an AI assistant that works across multiple Zoho applications, allowing users to retrieve information and make decisions without switching between software platforms.

The company says this unified approach simplifies adoption by embedding AI into everyday workflows instead of requiring organizations to purchase and manage separate AI solutions.

Zoho One continues to be priced at US$37 per user per month.

Why integration matters for businesses adopting AI

As organizations adopt more cloud services, managing separate applications has become increasingly difficult.

According to Zoho's State of Workforce Password Security 2026 report:

• Businesses using over 15 applications - 64% of APAC organizations
• Organizations lacking complete identity and access visibility - 73%

These findings suggest that many businesses are expanding their digital tools faster than they can effectively manage security and user access.

An integrated software platform can help centralize data, reduce duplicate processes, and simplify identity management, which becomes increasingly important as AI tools gain access to sensitive business information.

How does Zoho approach AI differently?

One area Zoho continues to emphasize is data privacy.

According to the company, customer data is not used to train generic AI models, and its proprietary large language model (LLM), Zia LLM, operates within Zoho-managed infrastructure.

For organizations handling confidential information or operating under strict compliance requirements, keeping AI processing within a controlled environment may reduce concerns about sharing business data with external AI providers.

The company also says it intends to keep AI capabilities accessible to businesses of different sizes rather than pricing them as premium add-ons.

What does this mean for Philippine businesses?

AI adoption is moving beyond experimentation.

Many organizations are now evaluating how AI can improve customer service, automate repetitive work, support employees, and strengthen decision-making without increasing operational complexity.

For Philippine businesses, particularly growing MSMEs, integrated platforms may become increasingly attractive as they reduce the need to manage multiple vendors while supporting long-term digital transformation.

As government initiatives continue encouraging responsible AI adoption, software providers are expected to focus not only on introducing new AI capabilities but also on making them practical, secure, and easier to deploy.

Zoho's latest announcements signal a broader shift in enterprise software, where AI is becoming part of everyday business operations rather than a standalone technology.

By combining Zia Agents, Zoho One, and its security infrastructure into a single platform, Zoho is positioning itself to help Philippine businesses adopt AI while addressing common concerns around integration, governance, and data privacy.

For organizations planning their AI strategy, the emphasis is no longer simply on adding artificial intelligence. It is increasingly about choosing systems that can scale efficiently while keeping operations connected and secure.

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Manulife Deepens Microsoft Partnership to Scale AI Governance Across Global Operations

Manulife Deepens Microsoft Partnership to Scale AI Governance Across Global Operations

Thursday, July 23, 2026

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future initiative for large enterprises. It is becoming part of daily operations, product development, customer service, and decision-making. For financial institutions, however, broader AI adoption comes with a challenge: how do organizations innovate quickly while maintaining security, compliance, and trust?

That question sits at the center of the expanded partnership between Manulife and Microsoft, as the insurance and financial services company accelerates its transition into an AI-powered organization.

The companies announced a new five-year agreement that will expand AI tools and governance systems across Manulife's global operations, including broader use of Microsoft 365 Copilot and the deployment of Microsoft Agent 365, a platform designed to monitor, govern, and secure AI agents operating at enterprise scale.

Enterprise AI governance

As organizations move beyond pilot projects and deploy AI across multiple business functions, governance becomes as important as innovation.

Enterprise AI governance refers to the policies, controls, monitoring systems, and risk management processes that ensure AI tools operate securely, transparently, and in compliance with regulations. This is particularly important in industries such as insurance and financial services, where customer trust and data security are central to business operations.

Manulife's approach reflects a broader shift among global corporations: AI is increasingly viewed not merely as a productivity tool but as a strategic capability requiring the same oversight applied to finance, cybersecurity, and operational risk.

Under the expanded partnership, Manulife has adopted capabilities under Microsoft's Frontier Suite and will extend Microsoft 365 Copilot access to more than 30,000 employees worldwide.

From productivity tools to agentic AI

The next phase of enterprise AI is moving beyond chatbots and content generation toward what technology leaders call agentic AI.

Agentic AI refers to systems that can perform tasks, make decisions within defined parameters, and interact with multiple applications or workflows with minimal human intervention.

To support this transition, Manulife plans to deploy Microsoft Agent 365 as a centralized registry for AI agents across the organization. The system will provide visibility into how AI agents function, helping teams monitor performance, manage risks, and maintain compliance standards.

This development highlights an emerging trend in enterprise technology: companies are not only building AI applications but also creating frameworks to supervise and coordinate increasingly autonomous systems.

How Manulife is using AI today

AI adoption at Manulife already extends beyond internal experimentation.

In North America alone, AI-powered systems currently support more than 110 million customer calls annually, while similar capabilities are expanding into Asian markets.

These implementations illustrate how AI in insurance is evolving from isolated tools into integrated enterprise systems.

Productivity gains and long-term value creation

One of the clearest business cases for AI lies in productivity improvements.

According to Manulife, developers using AI-assisted tools have increased productivity by approximately 30 percent, enabling teams to accelerate software development and focus resources on new business initiatives.

A notable example involved rebuilding the company's mortgage renewal application in a matter of weeks using AI-supported development workflows.

The company also expects its AI initiatives to generate more than US$1 billion in enterprise value by 2027, combining cost efficiencies, revenue growth opportunities, fraud reduction, and productivity gains.

These targets align with a growing consensus among business leaders that AI's long-term value will depend not only on technological capability but on an organization's ability to integrate AI responsibly into everyday operations.

Why this matters for the insurance industry

Insurance has traditionally been a data-intensive business, making it one of the sectors most likely to benefit from AI.

From underwriting and claims processing to customer engagement and fraud detection, AI technologies can help organizations improve speed, accuracy, and operational efficiency.

However, the industry also faces increasing pressure to ensure that AI systems remain explainable, secure, and aligned with ethical standards.

Manulife's expanded partnership with Microsoft reflects a larger industry shift toward balancing innovation with governance. As AI systems become more autonomous, companies will need robust frameworks that address transparency, accountability, and risk management.

This is particularly relevant as regulators worldwide begin to develop clearer guidelines around enterprise AI deployment.

The bigger picture

The agreement between Manulife and Microsoft highlights a key reality of today's AI era: competitive advantage no longer comes from simply adopting AI tools.

It comes from building an ecosystem where innovation, governance, security, and human oversight work together.

For insurers and financial institutions, responsible AI deployment may ultimately become as important as the technology itself.

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AI Traffic Is Growing 6.5x Faster Than Human Traffic, Fastly Reports

AI Traffic Is Growing 6.5x Faster Than Human Traffic, Fastly Reports

Friday, June 26, 2026

Artificial intelligence is no longer just changing how people search, shop, and work online. It's also transforming the very nature of internet traffic.

According to new research from edge cloud platform Fastly, AI-generated traffic is growing significantly faster than human traffic, creating new challenges and opportunities for businesses managing websites, applications, and digital services. As AI assistants, autonomous agents, and machine-driven systems become more common, organizations may need to rethink how they handle automated requests and protect their digital infrastructure.

Fastly Finds AI Traffic Growing at a Rapid Pace

Fastly's latest analysis of activity across its global network found that AI-generated requests increased by approximately 30% between January and May 2026. During the same period, AI traffic expanded 6.5 times faster than human traffic, highlighting how machine-driven interactions are becoming an increasingly important part of the internet.

While the volume of AI requests continues to rise, Fastly says the bigger shift lies in how these systems interact with online content, applications, and business services.

Rather than viewing AI traffic simply as another form of bot activity, organizations are beginning to recognize it as a new layer of internet activity that requires its own management strategy.

AI Is Changing How Businesses Think About Web Traffic

For years, companies have focused primarily on identifying and blocking malicious bots.

Today, however, businesses face a more nuanced challenge.

Some AI systems help surface company content in AI-powered search experiences, answer customer questions, compare products, or retrieve real-time information on behalf of users. Others may place additional strain on infrastructure or access sensitive data without delivering meaningful business value.

This means organizations increasingly need to decide which AI systems should be welcomed, monitored, limited, or blocked altogether.

According to Artur Bergman, Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Fastly, the internet is entering a new era.

"AI traffic is fundamentally changing how the internet operates."

He explained that businesses are moving beyond a world where humans are the primary users of digital experiences.

"The challenge is no longer simply blocking bots, it's understanding which machine interactions should be accelerated, managed, challenged, or stopped."

Understanding the Different Types of AI Traffic

Fastly's research identifies two major categories of AI-generated traffic that organizations should understand.

AI Crawlers

AI crawlers systematically scan websites to collect information that can be used to build, train, or update AI models.

These systems typically browse large volumes of online content and operate similarly to traditional search engine crawlers, although their objectives differ.

AI Fetchers and AI Agents

AI fetchers retrieve information in response to specific user requests made through AI assistants or emerging autonomous AI applications.

These requests often involve real-time tasks such as:

• Answering user questions
• Comparing products or services
• Verifying information
• Retrieving live data
• Completing digital tasks on behalf of users

As AI assistants become more capable, fetchers are expected to play an increasingly important role in how consumers discover brands and access online information.

AI Requests Place Greater Demands on Infrastructure

The study also found that AI traffic affects backend infrastructure differently than traditional user traffic.

Based on Fastly's May 2026 data:

• More than 51% of AI requests required origin server access
• Less than 9% of human requests required origin access

This means AI-generated traffic often bypasses cached content and directly interacts with an organization's servers, potentially increasing infrastructure costs and resource usage.

Fastly also observed particularly strong growth in AI assistant activity.

Traffic associated with Claude increased by more than 555% compared with its January 2026 baseline, demonstrating how quickly AI-powered applications are scaling.

AI Traffic Management Is Becoming a Business Strategy

Fastly believes organizations should no longer treat AI traffic solely as an IT or cybersecurity issue.

Instead, decisions about AI access increasingly influence brand visibility, digital distribution, customer acquisition, and how organizations appear within AI-powered experiences.

The company observed different approaches among large enterprises.

One organization chose to block a sudden increase in AI fetcher activity, likely to retain greater control over its content.

Another allowed AI agents continued access, resulting in sustained growth in AI fetcher traffic and potentially increasing visibility across AI-powered platforms.

These contrasting strategies highlight that AI traffic decisions may directly influence how businesses are discovered in the future.

Three Elements of an Effective AI Traffic Strategy

As AI-generated internet activity continues to expand, Fastly recommends organizations build a more intentional machine traffic strategy centered around three key capabilities.

Visibility

Organizations need clear insight into which AI systems are interacting with their websites, APIs, and digital services.

Context

Understanding why AI systems access digital resources helps distinguish beneficial activity from potentially harmful or unnecessary requests.

Precision

Businesses should be able to apply different policies based on an AI system's intent, behavior, and business value rather than relying on one-size-fits-all rules.

Fastly says its edge cloud platform enables organizations to balance performance, security, bot management, and infrastructure protection while making real-time decisions about AI-generated requests.

Preparing for an AI-Driven Internet

As AI assistants and autonomous agents become increasingly integrated into everyday digital experiences, organizations will likely encounter more machine-generated interactions than ever before.

Managing these requests effectively will require more than simply blocking bots. Businesses must evaluate how AI systems influence customer discovery, online visibility, operational costs, and digital strategy.

Fastly's latest findings suggest that AI traffic is no longer an emerging trend. It is becoming a permanent part of the internet's evolution, and organizations that develop thoughtful machine traffic strategies today may be better positioned to compete in an increasingly AI-driven digital landscape.

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Saviynt Unveils AI Identity Security With Intent-Aware Runtime Authorization

Saviynt Unveils AI Identity Security With Intent-Aware Runtime Authorization

As artificial intelligence moves beyond chatbots and into autonomous agents capable of making decisions and executing tasks, organizations are facing a new cybersecurity challenge: how do you control what AI agents are allowed to do in real time?

To address this growing concern, identity security company Saviynt has introduced new capabilities for its Identity Security for AI platform, including Intent-Aware Runtime Authorization (IARA), a technology designed to monitor and control AI agent behavior while actions are taking place. The latest enhancements also strengthen identity verification to help organizations reduce impersonation and fraud risks as AI adoption accelerates.

Why AI Agents Need a New Approach to Identity Security

AI agents are becoming increasingly capable of performing complex business tasks with minimal human intervention. From accessing company applications to interacting with APIs, databases, and other AI systems, these digital workers can complete thousands of actions within seconds.

While this creates significant productivity gains, it also introduces new security concerns.

Traditional identity and access management systems were designed primarily for human users and conventional software applications. They often rely on static permissions that may not accurately assess whether an AI agent's action is appropriate in a specific situation.

As enterprises deploy AI agents into production environments, organizations need security tools that evaluate access decisions dynamically rather than relying solely on predefined permissions.

Saviynt Introduces Intent-Aware Runtime Authorization

To meet this need, Saviynt has enhanced its Agent Access Gateway with Intent-Aware Runtime Authorization (IARA).

Rather than simply checking whether an AI agent has permission to perform a task, IARA evaluates several factors at the exact moment an action is requested, including:

• The identity of the AI agent
• The surrounding context
• Organizational security policies
• The agent's intended objective

If an action falls outside approved policies or appears inconsistent with its intended purpose, the system can immediately block the request while generating an audit record for security teams.

This runtime approach allows organizations to respond to AI behavior as it happens instead of relying solely on permissions granted beforehand.

Moving Beyond Static Access Controls

According to Vibhuti Sinha, Chief Product Officer at Saviynt, AI agents should now be viewed as a new category of enterprise identity.

"AI agents are becoming a new class of enterprise identity, autonomous, powerful, and capable of taking action across critical business systems."

He explained that Agent Access Gateway enables organizations to make security decisions at the point where AI actions occur.

"With IARA, organizations can move beyond static permissions and make access decisions based on what an agent is trying to do, why it is doing it, and whether that action should be allowed."

This approach aims to give enterprises greater confidence as they automate increasingly sensitive business processes.

How Runtime Authorization Protects Business Systems

One of the biggest challenges with AI agents is that technical authorization alone does not always guarantee appropriate behavior.

For example, a sales support AI may legitimately access customer relationship management (CRM) data to summarize a sales opportunity.

However, if that same AI suddenly attempts to export customer records, alter pricing information, or initiate customer communications without approval, organizations need a way to determine whether those actions align with the user's original intent.

Saviynt's runtime authorization engine is designed to identify these mismatches instantly and stop unauthorized actions before they can impact sensitive systems or data.

Expanded Governance Across the AI Ecosystem

Alongside runtime authorization, Saviynt has expanded governance capabilities throughout its broader Identity Security for AI platform.

Organizations can now manage:

Runtime access control for AI agents

Policies can evaluate and regulate AI agent behavior dynamically while tasks are being executed.

Tool and application permissions

Security teams can define both static and adaptive policies that determine which tools, applications, APIs, and resources AI agents are permitted to use.

AI delegation tracking

The platform can distinguish whether an AI agent is acting independently, operating on behalf of a human user, or carrying out requests from another AI agent, providing greater accountability across automated workflows.

These controls help organizations enforce least-privilege access while improving visibility into autonomous AI activity.

Stronger Identity Verification to Reduce AI-Driven Fraud

As AI-generated content and impersonation techniques become increasingly sophisticated, verifying human identities is also becoming more important.

To address this, Saviynt has introduced new identity verification capabilities directly within its platform.

The enhanced verification process includes:

• Biometric scanning
• Selfie photo verification
• Liveness detection
• Support for more than 4,000 government-issued identity documents across over 177 countries

These features are designed to strengthen identity assurance during certification processes while helping reduce impersonation, unauthorized access, and social engineering attacks.

Broader Integration Across Enterprise AI Platforms

Saviynt also continues to expand compatibility across enterprise AI ecosystems.

The latest release introduces additional native integrations with platforms including:

• Microsoft Foundry
• N8N
• Snowflake Cortex

These integrations help organizations manage AI identities consistently across where agents are built, deployed, and interact with enterprise applications.

Addressing the Next Generation of AI Security Challenges

As organizations increasingly rely on autonomous AI systems, securing those systems will require more than traditional identity management.

By combining runtime authorization, AI governance, and advanced identity verification, Saviynt aims to help enterprises address two rapidly emerging security priorities: controlling AI agent behavior during execution and reducing the risk of identity impersonation.

As AI continues to reshape business operations, solutions that provide real-time visibility and policy enforcement are becoming essential for organizations seeking to innovate without compromising security.

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How Filipino Data Scientists at RELX Are Driving Global AI and Analytics Innovation

How Filipino Data Scientists at RELX Are Driving Global AI and Analytics Innovation

Sunday, June 14, 2026

The rise of artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and data-driven decision-making has created unprecedented demand for skilled data professionals worldwide. As organizations increasingly rely on data to guide critical business, legal, scientific, and healthcare decisions, the need for talent capable of turning information into action has never been greater.

In the Philippines, one company is placing Filipino data science professionals at the forefront of this transformation. RELX | Reed Elsevier is strengthening its presence in the country as a strategic hub where local talent contributes to global innovations in analytics, AI, and decision intelligence.

From powering legal research platforms to supporting scientific discoveries and risk management solutions, Filipino teams are helping shape technologies used by millions of professionals around the world.

Filipino Talent at the Heart of Global Data Innovation

As industries become more data-centric, organizations are looking beyond technical expertise alone. They need professionals who can combine analytics, business understanding, and problem-solving skills to create practical solutions.

At RELX | Reed Elsevier, data scientists, analysts, and digital professionals in the Philippines work on high-impact projects spanning multiple industries, including:

• Legal intelligence
• Scientific research
• Risk analytics
• Healthcare solutions
• Business operations and optimization

Their work contributes directly to products and platforms that help professionals make informed decisions in environments where accuracy and reliability are essential.

Building Solutions That Create Real-World Impact

What sets data science work apart at RELX | Reed Elsevier is its direct connection to real-world applications.

Teams in the Philippines help develop and refine solutions that support legal professionals navigating complex cases, researchers accelerating scientific breakthroughs, and organizations identifying potential financial risks before they become major challenges.

This work is powered by RELX's extensive foundation of authoritative data and content, built over more than 150 years across legal, scientific, and risk intelligence sectors.

For data professionals, this means working with trusted, high-quality datasets that serve as the backbone of products relied upon by millions of users globally.

Data Science Beyond Dashboards and Reports

While data analysis often brings to mind charts, reports, and dashboards, the role of data professionals at RELX extends much further.

According to Digital Solutions Partner Rhina Jae Arcala, data becomes valuable when it uncovers opportunities and drives meaningful improvements.

"I find working with data exciting because it helps us uncover what we might otherwise overlook — hidden opportunities, unexpected patterns, and the stories behind the numbers," Arcala shared.

"It's not just about reports or dashboards; it's about driving meaningful change. When we use data to refine our processes, eliminate inefficiencies, and empower better decision-making, we're not just optimizing operations, we're opening doors for innovation and progress."

This perspective reflects a growing trend in modern data science, where success is measured not by the volume of data collected but by the value generated from it.

Why Translating Complexity Is a Critical Skill

As organizations adopt increasingly sophisticated technologies, one skill has become especially important: the ability to translate complexity into actionable solutions.

Within RELX | Reed Elsevier, data professionals are expected to bridge the gap between technical outputs and business needs.

Rather than simply building models, teams focus on ensuring insights can be understood, adopted, and applied effectively by stakeholders.

"Data science here is about translating the complex into solutions," Arcala explained.

This ability to connect data, business objectives, and operational realities often determines whether an analytics project succeeds in delivering real-world value.

Turning Insights Into Operational Efficiency

Another defining characteristic of data science work at RELX is its close connection to operational improvement.

Teams design solutions that help reduce manual effort, streamline workflows, and surface the most relevant information for decision-makers.

Examples include:

• Enhancing editorial processes
• Supporting enterprise-wide query management
• Improving workflow automation
• Delivering intelligent information retrieval
• Reducing repetitive tasks through data-driven systems

The goal is not to replace human expertise but to empower professionals to focus on higher-value activities while technology handles routine processes.

A Responsible Approach to High-Stakes Data

Working in industries such as legal intelligence, healthcare, and risk management requires more than technical accuracy. It demands responsibility, context, and trust.

At RELX | Reed Elsevier, teams are trained to begin with the decision being made rather than the technology being used.

This approach ensures that data science initiatives are aligned with real-world outcomes and consider the potential implications of how information is interpreted and applied.

In high-stakes environments, even small insights can influence important decisions, making responsible data practices a critical part of the development process.

How AI Is Reshaping the Role of Data Scientists

Artificial intelligence is transforming how data professionals work, but RELX views this evolution as an opportunity rather than a threat.

As AI tools become increasingly capable of supporting coding, analysis, and experimentation, the role of the data scientist is shifting toward higher-level decision-making and strategic thinking.

Arcala explained that AI is changing how professionals allocate their time and expertise.

"It's changing the 'center of gravity' from just producing output to producing outputs that move us toward better decisions."

In this environment, judgment, critical thinking, and business understanding become even more valuable than technical execution alone.

Investing in the Future of Data Science

To keep pace with rapidly evolving technologies, RELX | Reed Elsevier continues to invest heavily in employee development.

Teams are given access to enterprise AI platforms, advanced development environments, and structured training programs covering areas such as:

• Generative AI
• Prompt engineering
• Predictive modeling
• Responsible AI practices
• Advanced analytics
• Machine learning development

These learning opportunities are reinforced through collaboration with global teams, allowing Filipino professionals to exchange knowledge and contribute to international projects.

The Philippines as a Growing Analytics and AI Hub

The Philippines continues to strengthen its reputation as a destination for high-value technology, analytics, and AI work. As businesses around the world accelerate their digital transformation efforts, Filipino professionals are playing an increasingly important role in shaping the future of data-driven innovation.

At RELX | Reed Elsevier, that contribution goes beyond supporting global systems. Local teams are actively helping design, improve, and scale solutions that influence how professionals make decisions across industries worldwide.

By combining deep domain expertise, responsible innovation, and continuous learning, the company is creating an environment where Filipino data scientists can thrive while contributing to some of today's most important technological advancements.

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