Author: Dawn Solano

Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to become a key engine of business growth across Asia-Pacific this year, as companies move from experiments to large-scale, revenue-generating applications, according to IBM’s latest regional outlook. In its APAC AI Outlook 2026: Transferable Value Across Industries, IBM said enterprises are entering what it calls AI’s “breakout moment,” marked by a shift from cost-cutting to innovation and measurable returns. The report drew insights from executives at 14 top-performing organizations in the region, including the Philippines’ EastWest Bank and Meralco PowerGen. IBM found that 64% of AI investments are now channeled toward core business functions, where…

Global Internet traffic grew by 19 percent in 2025, but the expansion was accompanied by intensifying cyber threats, a surge in automated activity, and an increase in government-driven Internet disruptions, according to connectivity cloud firm Cloudflare. In its annual Year in Review report, Cloudflare said the past year marked a turning point for the Internet as growing dependence on digital services collided with escalating cyber warfare and rapid advances in artificial intelligence. The company recorded more than 25 record-breaking distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks in 2025, reflecting what it described as a sharp rise in both the scale and sophistication of…

Despite years of cybersecurity reminders, users continue to rely on predictable and easily cracked passwords, according to new research by global cybersecurity firm Kaspersky. Analyzing major data breaches from 2023 to 2025, Kaspersky found that many users still include personal details such as names, dates, or short number sequences in their passwords. The study revealed that 10 percent of leaked passwords contained date-like numbers, while “12345” remained the most common combination. Other frequent inclusions were the word “love,” users’ own names, and even country names. More alarming, the report showed that 54 percent of passwords leaked in 2025 had already…

Artificial intelligence is gaining ground among Filipino marketers, but its use has yet to become fully embedded in everyday campaign work, with many teams still relying heavily on manual processes. In an email interview with PhilSTAR Tech, DoubleVerify Philippines senior business director Tinee Cruz said awareness and experimentation with AI tools are increasing in the local market, but overall adoption remains in the early-to-mid stages compared with other Southeast Asian countries. “Many teams are exploring AI-powered tools for audience targeting and creative optimization, but manual processes still dominate day-to-day campaign work, ” Cruz wrote. This reliance on manual optimization carries…

Fitness+, Apple’s subscription-based workout service, is scheduled to launch in the Philippines on December 15 as part of the company’s widest expansion to date, giving users in 49 countries and regions access to 12 workout types. The service offers 12 workout categories with sessions ranging from five to 45 minutes, covering Strength, Yoga, HIIT, Pilates, Dance, Cycling, Kickboxing, Core, Treadmill, Rowing, Mindful Cooldown, and Meditation, all accessible on the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. Apple said users may pair their workouts with an Apple Watch or AirPods Pro 3 to view personal metrics onscreen, including heart rate, calories burned, Activity…

Artificial intelligence (AI) dominated Filipinos’ online curiosity this year, with Google’s Gemini AI emerging as the country’s most searched term in 2025. In its annual Year in Search report, Google said the result reflects how Filipinos are increasingly relying on AI tools for daily tasks for school or for work. It marks the first time an AI-related keyword topped the list in the Philippines, signaling how generative technology has entered the mainstream. Other AI platforms such as DeepSeek, Claude, and ChatGPT also figured in the top trending AI-related searches, along with prompts like “humanize this,” showing how users are learning…

Artificial intelligence (AI) companies are facing heavier cyberattacks amid growing public debate over the technology’s impact, according to web infrastructure and security firm Cloudflare. In its DDoS Threat Report for the third quarter of 2025, Cloudflare said attacks against AI and generative AI platforms jumped 347 percent in September, coinciding with intensifying discussions on AI regulation, data privacy, and deepfakes. The company said the surge appeared to mirror global sentiment toward AI’s rapid adoption. Cloudflare added that botnets-for-hire, or rentable networks of compromised devices, have made it easier and cheaper for attackers to launch large-scale disruptions, sometimes for only a…

Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has launched an interactive game called “Case 404” to help Gen Z users recognize hidden dangers in fake privacy tools and unsafe downloads. The game immerses players in a digital mystery where they learn how malicious apps, phishing sites and fraudulent offers disguise themselves as legitimate services. By solving in-game challenges, players uncover real-world cybersecurity lessons and earn a discount for Kaspersky Premium, which includes built-in VPN and anti-malware protection. The initiative follows Kaspersky’s findings where, between October 2024 and September 2025, it identified over 15 million attempted attacks posing as VPN applications. Rather than protecting users,…

Philippine enterprises seeking to fully harness artificial intelligence (AI) must first complete their digital transformation, including adopting low-code solutions, or risk being left behind, a global workflow automation firm has warned According to Rakesh Nandakumar, the associate vice president executive at Kissflow in the Asia Pacific, businesses can only maximize the promise of AI once their systems and operations are fully digitized. He said the next few years will be crucial as more industries adopt AI-powered tools to drive efficiency and innovation. “Factually speaking, we don’t have a choice. If you do not adopt this technology, you are going to…

Aputure introduced its STORM series and updated NOVA II lights, positioning the new fixtures as more accessible options for independent filmmakers and small production teams in the Philippines. Unveiled at the “The STORM Has Come” launch in Quezon City, November 17, the lights use Aputure’s new BLAIR and BLAIR-CG engines, which are both claimed to bring out higher output efficiency and improved color accuracy. Aputure said the upgrades offer “industry-standard performance” at a lower price point than legacy cinema lighting brands, which is a formula long appealed to students and indie creators. The company released local pricing following the launch.…