Southeast Asia-based data science and AI consultancy Thinking Machines, a Filipino-founded company, has been named OpenAI’s first regional services partner in Asia-Pacific, marking a milestone in the region’s accelerating adoption of artificial intelligence.
The announcement was made during a virtual media briefing attended by members of the Philippine, Singaporean, and Thai press. Company leaders emphasized that the collaboration will support enterprises across APAC in responsibly and effectively integrating generative AI into their operations.
“This is the first time that OpenAI is collaborating with a regional consultancy in APAC to bring AI to enterprises in the region,” said Niek van Veen, Vice President for Growth at Thinking Machines. “It speaks to the scale of opportunity in this region, and to the trust that OpenAI has placed in us to help enterprises navigate this transformation.”
AI at a turning point
According to IBM’s 2024 CEO Study, 61% of enterprises in Asia-Pacific report adopting AI. In the Philippines, a Boston Consulting Group–IMDA–Temasek report shows 80% of organizations have already adopted AI, with nearly half of them considered “performers” effectively driving value.
Despite this progress, many companies remain in “proof-of-concept purgatory,” launching pilots without scaling solutions or achieving returns on investment.
“The question isn’t, should we do this with AI. It’s how do we do this responsibly and at scale,” said Stephanie Sy, Founder and CEO of Thinking Machines. “Every CEO that we’re talking to is trying to figure this out.”
Sy, who was recognized by Forbes Asia’s 30 Under 30 and UNICEF Innovation30, also serves as an AI advisor to the Philippine Department of Science and Technology. She founded Thinking Machines in Manila in 2015 and has long been an advocate for responsible AI adoption and human-centered data science.
Human-in-Command approach
A recurring theme of the briefing was Thinking Machines’ emphasis on “human-in-command” AI. The consultancy advocates embedding human oversight, accountability, and ethical safeguards into AI systems.
“Our philosophy is built on two things: control and reliability,” Sy explained. “AI cannot be accountable for decisions. So we must train humans on how to be able to manage these new tools.”
The company has trained over 10,000 professionals in the region and deployed more than 3,000 AI assistants in the past year. Its projects span financial services, media, and development. In the Philippines, Thinking Machines worked with microfinance firm OnePuhunan to develop AI-powered practice bots that helped new account officers gain confidence when pitching to sari-sari store owners, cutting training time and improving customer engagement.
Partnership roadmap
The OpenAI–Thinking Machines collaboration focuses on three pillars:
- Executive enablement programs, helping C-suite leaders and senior managers understand how to use tools like ChatGPT Enterprise to improve productivity.
- Enterprise transformation services, providing end-to-end support for integrating AI into workflows, supported by organizational change management.
- Custom agentic AI applications, designed using OpenAI’s APIs to embed each company’s unique “DNA” into solutions for strategic value.
“Across Asia Pacific, we are seeing business leaders eager to unlock new productivity gains and venture into innovative use cases with AI,” said Andy Brown, Head of Go-to-Market, Asia Pacific for OpenAI. “This initiative with Thinking Machines will give leaders the know-how and hands-on support to embed our latest GPT-5 model into their daily operations, helping them move from experimentation to impact”.
The program will first roll out in Singapore, the Philippines, and Thailand through Thinking Machines’ regional offices, before expanding across APAC.
Leadership behind the partnership
- Stephanie Sy, Founder and CEO, is one of Southeast Asia’s foremost AI leaders, recognized internationally for her work in human-centered AI and collaboration with organizations such as UNICEF, Temasek, and the Asian Development Bank.
- Niek van Veen, VP for Growth, brings two decades of experience in digital transformation, previously holding leadership roles at Singtel Group and Vodafone.
- Mook Promphorn Chaichiraiwiwat, Country Manager for Thailand, has led AI and big data product development at Temasek and now drives Thinking Machines’ expansion and partnerships in the Thai market.
What’s next
Thinking Machines plans to work with at least 20 organizations in the region this year, combining training, implementation, and case studies to ensure Southeast Asia’s AI needs are reflected in the global roadmap. The consultancy will also co-publish white papers, host industry roundtables, and run innovation programs to foster AI adoption tailored to the region’s cultural and business context.
Sy emphasized that Southeast Asia must not simply be a consumer of global AI technology. “Our cultural and localized data should be part of global models,” she said. “We should be a key part of global AI transformation, rather than being dragged along by whatever these global AI companies decide.”
