AAP board of Trustees gather at the media launch of AICON Manila 2026, the country’s premier learning event on analytics and AI, happening on August 25 at SPACE @ One Ayala Mall in Makati City. Carrying the theme “Human by Design: Building the AI Future We Choose,” the conference will bring together leaders, educators, practitioners, learners, and industry stakeholders for practical discussions on responsible, human-centered AI. From left: Joey Gurango of JoeyGurango.com; Sonny Carlos of Stratpoint Technologies; Michelle Alarcon of Z-Lift Solutions; Lee Abadia of SGV & Co.; and Norman Lapid of Ayala Corporation.
The August 25 gathering will bring together leaders, educators, learners, practitioners, and other sectors for practical conversations on building AI around Filipino values and needs.
As artificial intelligence changes how people learn, work, do business, and make decisions, Filipinos should not simply be passive users of technology created elsewhere. They should also have a voice in deciding how AI is adopted, applied, and governed in the country.
This idea will take center stage at AICON Manila 2026, happening on August 25 at SPACE @ One Ayala Mall in Makati City.
Organized by the Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines (AAP), AICON is the country’s premier learning event on analytics and AI. It brings together business leaders, decision-makers, technology professionals, practitioners, educators, learners, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders who want to better understand AI and its growing role in society.
This year’s theme, “Human by Design: Building the AI Future We Choose,” is grounded in a simple principle: technology should serve humanity, not the other way around.
The theme was deliberately framed around the need for the Philippines to decide how AI should be adopted—guided by the country’s values, applied to its most pressing societal needs, and used first and foremost to uplift Filipino lives, rather than simply following global trends or chasing international rankings.
This means taking an active role in shaping how AI is used in our schools, workplaces, businesses, institutions, and communities. Rather than merely consuming systems and standards developed elsewhere, Filipinos can help ensure that AI reflects local realities and serves the people it is meant to support.
“We have a choice. Rather than merely following trends, the Philippines should dictate what AI’s role is in our shared future. This year’s AICON is designed to tackle what this future may look like—for our local industries, our workforce, our society—with intentionality in the use of analytics and AI. We want practitioners, business leaders, educators, and policymakers to learn from real implementation experiences and make deliberate choices about building and using AI systems responsibly, centered on people,” said Michelle Alarcon, President and Co-Founder of AAP.
So, what can attendees expect at AICON Manila 2026?
Practical learning will be at the heart of the conference. Sessions will feature real-world case studies, implementation journeys, demonstrations, frameworks, lessons learned, and guidance that participants can apply within their organizations.
Breakout sessions will be conducted as interactive workshops rather than traditional lectures, creating room for dialogue, sharing ideas, and hands-on learning. Attendees will also have opportunities to connect with industry peers, AI and analytics experts, business leaders, and solution providers through the conference’s learning sessions and ecosystem hub.
AICON Manila 2026 is set to welcome 800 attendees. Its program will feature three plenary keynotes, two panel discussions, and 24 breakout sessions, complemented by an ecosystem hub with 24 exhibitors and market leaders.
Among the announced speakers are Anton Reynaldo Bonifacio, Chief Intelligence and Trust Officer of Globe Telecom, and Alarcon, who will deliver plenary keynotes.
The program will also feature Sherwin Pelayo, Chair of the Technical Panel on AI and Data Analytics of the Commission on Higher Education, on developing pathways from learning to work; Derick Ohmar Adil, Chief Standards and Certifications Officer of the International AI Safety Commission, on AI safety and governance; Pam Cabudoy, Chief Data Scientist and Group Head for Data Science and Analytics at RCBC, on enterprise AI; and Jenny Echevarria, Vice President for Enterprise Data and Strategic Services at Globe Telecom, on creating business value with trust.
Additional keynote speakers, panelists, workshop facilitators, and industry leaders from the Philippines and abroad will be announced as the program is finalized.
The 2025 conference drew more than 600 AI professionals and enthusiasts from 126 organizations across 25 industries, featuring 28 speakers and 19 exhibitors and partners.
By holding AICON every year, AAP continues to nurture a Philippine AI ecosystem that stays connected, active, and engaged long after each conference ends.
Whether participants are beginning their organization’s AI journey or leading enterprise-scale transformation, AICON Manila 2026 offers an opportunity to learn from people building and applying AI in real-world settings—and to help shape an AI future rooted in Filipino values.
To learn more about AICON Manila 2026 and secure a seat, visit aicon.aap.ph.
