TLDR: Chief Information Officers (CIOs) in the Philippines are approaching the adoption of Agentic AI with caution, despite its billing as the next significant advancement after Generative AI. During the CXO Tech Summit, these tech leaders emphasized the need for vendors to present clear use cases, demonstrate tangible return on investment (ROI), and address specific business challenges, moving beyond mere technological buzzwords. This sentiment is underscored by a global survey revealing a substantial disparity between AI adoption aspirations (80%) and successful implementation rates (27-30%).
MANILA, Philippines – Chief Information Officers (CIOs) from various industries and government agencies in the Philippines are urging technology vendors to provide concrete use cases and demonstrable returns on investment (ROI) for Agentic AI, rather than relying on hype. This call came during the recent CXO Tech Summit in Boracay, Malay, Aklan, where digitalization and artificial intelligence were key discussion points.
Agentic AI, described as the next major development following Generative AI, involves autonomous bots or agents capable of planning, reasoning, and accomplishing tasks with minimal human supervision. While vendors tout its potential for significant productivity boosts, many CIOs remain skeptical without clear evidence of its practical application and value.
Paul Siy, Senior Vice President and CIO of BDO, expressed this sentiment directly, stating, “Stop throwing buzzwords at me, because it doesn’t work, right? Tell me how other banks are using it. How is it going to either make people more productive, increase my revenue, or make our banks safer?”
Dennis Tangonan, CIO of Security Bank, acknowledged his company’s early adoption of AI to enhance operations but cautioned against being “caught in the middle of the AI hype versus reality.” He cited a global survey indicating that while 80 percent of enterprises are adopting AI, only 27 to 30 percent achieve successful implementation, highlighting a “huge gap between aspiration and implementation.” Tangonan stressed the importance of understanding the specific problems Agentic AI can solve, advocating for an “opportunistic” approach to AI implementation due to its potential high costs.
Frank Vibar, CIO of Asian Hospital, noted a conservative stance towards AI in the highly regulated healthcare sector. He emphasized that AI adoption must be driven by a clear business problem, stating, “personally, I search for AI use cases that has been proven and tested in different hospitals in different countries.”
Other CIOs from major organizations, including Amkor Tech, Energy Development Corp, RCBC, St. Luke’s Hospital, Wilcon Depot, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Pag-IBIG Fund, echoed the demand for greater clarity on how Agentic AI can genuinely benefit their operations and clients.
Herns Hermida, Cisco Architecture Specialist, acknowledged the current “hype cycle” surrounding AI and Agentic AI, referencing Gartner’s research on emerging technologies. He observed that the industry is “still at the peak of inflated expectations.”
Jimmy Go, President and CEO of VST ECS, the organizer of the summit, advised companies to explore how AI can “serve their unique business goals,” whether it’s reducing operational costs, improving customer experience, streamlining supply chains, or accelerating innovation. However, Go also issued a critical caution: “AI is only as powerful as the data it consumes. Without high-quality, relevant, and timely data, even the most advanced AI system are ineffective.” He further stressed the necessity of upskilling the workforce to be “AI-literate” and cultivating new talents focused on skills AI cannot replicate, such as critical thinking, creativity, and strategic leadership.
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The CXO Tech Summit, which ran from October 14 to 17, served as a platform for these crucial discussions, underscoring a collective industry push for practical, value-driven AI adoption.
