As global industries accelerate AI adoption, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation’s (RCBC) Executive Vice President and Chief Innovations and Inclusion Officer Lito Villanueva is calling on leaders to keep humanity at the core of technological progress.

Speaking at two major events, the 2nd Annual CX Global Summit Philippines and SaaScon PH 2025, Villanueva emphasized that meaningful innovation must be both tech-driven and human-centered to truly succeed.

Delivering a keynote at the CX Global Summit, Villanueva addressed top CX leaders, innovators, and professionals, urging them to ride the wave of global AI adoption with thoughtful consideration of its human impact.

“While AI can generate insights, humans must provide judgment. While AI can automate responses, humans must practice empathy. And while AI can suggest financial products, we must ensure they align with customer needs and ethical standards,” Villanueva stressed.

His call for balance between innovation and empathy echoes a growing sentiment in Asia-Pacific’s digital transformation narrative that technology must serve people, not replace them.

In a fireside chat that followed at SaaScon PH 2025 with Patrick Gentry of Sprout Solutions and Victor Genuino of ePLDT, Villanueva sounded the alarm on the need for organizations to accelerate AI adoption and workforce upskilling. He pointed out that many Filipino workers are already taking the initiative to learn and use critical AI tools independently.

Leadership attitudes reflect this momentum: 89% of Filipino business leaders believe their organizations must embrace AI—higher than the global average of 79%. But here’s the disconnect: 55% of Filipino leaders admit their organizations still lack a clear AI strategy. Even more concerning, 83% of AI users bring their own tools to work, exposing companies to potential security and integration risks,” he added.

Villanueva also referenced a recent Microsoft–LinkedIn study showing that 86% of Filipino knowledge workers already use AI in their daily work, well above the global average of 75%. This highlights the need for businesses to catch up with their own employees.

As a leading digital trailblazer in the Philippine banking sector, RCBC has consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation while staying grounded in ethical finance and financial inclusion.

The bank’s transformation story, led by Villanueva, has earned over 250 local and global accolades, including Euromoney’s Best Bank for Digital (2020–2024) and Sustainable Innovator of the Year at the Singapore Fintech Festival 2024. Most recently, Villanueva was named Asia Trailblazer of the Year at the Retail Banker International Asia Trailblazer Awards 2025.