Gobi Partners Reports 25% of Filipino Workers Use AI Agents for Multistep Tasks

AI Adoption Among Filipino Workers Exceeds Global Average

According to a report released by Gobi Partners in Manila, one in four Filipino workers uses AI agents to handle tasks involving multiple steps. This adoption rate is higher than the global average, highlighting growing interest in AI-powered tools among the country's workforce.

Despite this progress among employees, AI adoption at the company level remains limited, with only 14.9% of Philippine firms using AI tools.

AI Startups Receive Less Than 1% of Startup Deal Value

The report also highlighted the limited investment activity in the Philippines' AI startup sector. AI startups accounted for less than 1% of the country's total startup deal value in 2026 so far.

Meanwhile, public funding has increased, rising from less than 1% in 2025 to approximately 9% in 2026 year to date.

One government-backed initiative supporting early-stage startups is the National Development Company's Startup Venture Fund. The fund has a total allocation of PHP 250 million (approximately US$3.97 million) and co-invests with private partners in early-stage companies.

Philippines BPO Industry Revises Employment Target

The growing use of AI is also influencing the Philippines' information technology and business process management industry.

The IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) has reduced its 2028 workforce target from 2.5 million employees to a best-case estimate of 2.14 million.

The association cited artificial intelligence and global competition as key factors affecting the industry's employment outlook.

Industry Shifts Focus from Capacity to Capability

IBPAP's industry roadmap highlights a shift in the country's IT and business process outsourcing (BPO) sector from capacity-driven growth towards capability development.

This shift reflects the growing importance of advanced skills, technology adoption and higher-value services as businesses respond to AI-driven changes and increasing global competition.

The developments highlight the opportunities and challenges facing the Philippines as AI adoption grows across its workforce and business sectors.

About Gobi Partners

Gobi Partners is a venture capital investment firm headquartered in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. The firm invests in startups and technology-driven businesses, with a focus on emerging markets across Asia.

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