PLDT Enterprise gathered founders, innovators and policy advocates in Manila for the latest edition of its Innovation Spotlight series, focusing on how artificial intelligence and cybersecurity are shaping startup development in the Philippines.

The forum, held in partnership with the US Embassy, the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative, YSEALI Amplify 9.0, Women’s Alliance for Security and Peace, Fibers Collective, and Pina Beauty PH, explored how young companies can adopt emerging technologies without exposing themselves to heightened digital risks.

Speakers examined the growing dependence of startups on AI-driven tools and cloud platforms, and how this reliance increases vulnerability to data breaches and fraud.

Captain Caroline Nacional, founder of the Women’s Alliance for Security and Peace, and Joie Cruz, CEO of Limitless Lab, discussed the need for responsible innovation and digital literacy if the country wants to cultivate a competitive tech sector.

They stressed that access to advanced technologies means little if businesses lack the capability to secure sensitive data and protect users.

Mickey Ruiz, head of innovations and product development at PLDT Enterprise, said many startups underestimate cybercrime until they are targeted, noting that agility has become both an advantage and a weakness.

“Cybercrime is no longer a distant threat — it’s here, it’s real, and it’s growing,” he said. He added that investing in cybersecurity early can prevent costly setbacks.

The forum also surveyed trends such as fraud detection driven by machine learning, cybersecurity tools embedded in cloud services, and the ethical issues surrounding automated decision-making.