What if the future of artificial intelligence wasn’t simply something Filipinos had to adapt to, but something they could help shape?
That question takes center stage at AICON Manila 2026, happening on August 25 at SPACE @ One Ayala in Makati City, where business leaders, educators, policymakers, technology professionals, and AI practitioners will gather to explore what a more people-centered AI future could look like for the Philippines.
Organized by the Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines (AAP), this year’s conference carries the theme “Human by Design: Building the AI Future We Choose.”
Rather than focusing solely on what’s new in technology, AICON Manila 2026 aims to bring the conversation back to a more familiar question: How can AI actually make life and work better for Filipinos?
Making AI more Filipino
AAP Board members gathered during the media launch of AICON Manila 2026. From left: Joey Gurango, Sonny Carlos, Michelle Alarcon, Lee Abadia, and Norman Lapid.
AI may be a global phenomenon, but its impact is increasingly being felt in classrooms, offices, businesses, government agencies, and everyday life.
For the Analytics & AI Association of the Philippines (AAP), that makes the conversation about AI adoption more than a technology discussion. It is also about deciding how the technology should fit the country’s social, economic, and cultural realities.
The conference will explore responsible AI adoption, ethical governance, workforce transformation, and practical implementation across industries. It also seeks to give Filipino businesses, educators, government leaders, and practitioners a stronger voice in shaping how AI is developed and used locally.
At its heart is a simple idea: technology should work for people — not the other way around.
Beyond the AI buzz
IMAGE CREDIT: AMD
For anyone who has followed the rapid rise of AI, the amount of information can be overwhelming. New tools, platforms, models, and predictions seem to emerge almost every day.
AICON Manila 2026 is taking a more practical approach.
The conference will feature three plenary keynotes, two panel discussions, and 24 breakout sessions covering topics ranging from enterprise AI and governance to AI safety, analytics, education, and workforce development.
Participants can also expect case studies, demonstrations, and interactive sessions designed to move the conversation from what AI can do to how organizations can actually use it.
An ecosystem hub will also bring together exhibitors, technology providers, and professionals, creating opportunities for attendees to exchange ideas and explore potential applications.
For organizations that are still figuring out where AI fits into their operations, the event offers a chance to learn from people who are already navigating that journey.
A growing community of AI practitioners
AAP’s Joey Gurango (left) leads a panel discussion during the press conference
The conference comes as the Philippine AI community continues to expand.
AICON Manila 2026 is expected to welcome around 800 participants, building on last year’s edition, which drew more than 600 attendees from 126 organizations across 25 industries.
Among the confirmed speakers are AAP President and Co-Founder Michelle Alarcon; Anton Reynaldo Bonifacio, Chief Intelligence and Trust Officer of Globe Telecom; Dr. Sherwin Pelayo of the Commission on Higher Education; Derick Ohmar Adil of the International AI Safety Commission; Pam Cabudoy of RCBC; and Jenny Echevarria of Globe Telecom.
AAP board members also include Joey Gurango, Sonny Carlos, Lee Abadia, and Norman Lapid.
With representatives from business, education, government, and technology coming together in one venue, the event reflects how broad the AI conversation has become — and how many different voices will be needed to shape its direction.
Choosing the future, together
As AI becomes part of more aspects of everyday life, conversations about the technology are moving beyond algorithms and automation.
They are increasingly about trust, jobs, education, creativity, governance, and the kind of society people want to build.
That is where AICON Manila 2026 hopes to make its mark.
With “Human by Design” as its guiding theme, the conference invites Filipinos to look at AI not simply as a wave of innovation to catch, but as a technology whose direction can be influenced by the choices made today.
Because perhaps the most important AI question isn’t simply what can we build?
It’s what kind of future do we want to build with it?
