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Jap Tobias - Philstar.com
August 20, 2026 | 5:00pm
MANILA, Philippines — Artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly evolved from an emerging technology into a core business capability, reshaping everything from customer service to fraud detection, software development and decision-making.
But as organizations race to adopt AI, industry leaders are increasingly asking a different question: How can innovation move quickly without compromising trust?
That challenge took center stage at the fifth GCash iGnite Innovation Summit 2026, where technology leaders, policymakers, cybersecurity experts and industry partners gathered to discuss the future of AI and digital finance.
For Pebbles Sy, chief technology and operations officer of Mynt, the parent company of GCash, the conversation is no longer about whether organizations should embrace AI, but about ensuring that innovation is backed by accountability, governance and trust.
"We're no longer just building intelligent systems. We're deploying responsible AI that anticipates customer needs, detects fraud before it happens, and automates friction out of everyday transactions," Sy said.
"As technology accelerates, trust has to move even faster,” she emphasized.
Moreover, Sy stressed that AI should not be viewed as a cure-all for every business challenge. "AI isn't a silver bullet. It's a tool that requires smart governance, clean data, and strong human judgment."
Human accountability remains at the center
Speaking during a sit-down interview following her keynote, Sy shared how Mynt approaches AI adoption across GCash's products and operations. "The next phase of GCash isn't just about adopting new tech," she said. "It's about how intentional we're being with it."
"The real test is simple: Does this actually solve a real problem for everyday Filipinos in a simpler, safer way," she stressed.
With millions of Filipinos relying on GCash daily to send money, pay bills and manage their finances, Sy said every product decision carries real-world consequences.
"Tech with a purpose, not just tech for tech's sake," she said, describing the philosophy guiding the company's AI initiatives.
Sy added that same principle extends to responsible AI governance, where AI supports the decisions, but humans own the outcome.
While AI can analyze vast amounts of information and accelerate workflows, Sy maintained that accountability cannot be delegated to machines.
Governance should match the level of risk, she reminded. For instance, an AI tool summarizing internal meeting notes requires a different level of oversight than one influencing fraud detection or financial decisions.
"Our teams need to know when to trust the output, when to challenge it, and when to step in.”
Trust begins long before launch
Sy also challenged the notion that organizations must choose between rapid innovation and strong security. "We don't trade speed for security. They actually fuel each other when designed right."
She pointed to the engineering principle of "shifting left"—embedding security, operational resilience and risk management early in the product development process instead of treating them as final checkpoints before launch.
"Reliability is the customer experience," Sy said. "Our users shouldn't have to think about back-end controls. They just need to know that when they open the app, it works and that their money is protected."
Building trust together
The key takeaway from the summit is collaboration. As Sy puts it, "The future of digital finance won't be built by technology alone. It's going to be built by people."
This collaboration must ultimately translate into real-world impact.
"Innovation only becomes meaningful when it moves off the stage and into the real world, improving how we work, protecting our customers, and building a stronger digital Philippines,” Sy concluded.
As AI capabilities continue to advance, Sy believes the organizations that succeed won't necessarily be those adopting technology the fastest—but those that earn people's trust just as quickly.
Editor’s Note: This #BrandSpace story is created with GCash. It is produced by the Advertising Content Team that is independent from our Editorial Newsroom.
