Author: PhilSTAR Tech Team

According to DITO Telecommunity, its in-house artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, KAi, now resolves up to 98% of customer inquiries instantly without human intervention, a performance that helped it win at the 13th Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards. KAi was recognized among more than 1,000 entries across the region, highlighting its role in improving customer service speed, scale, and accuracy across the telco’s app, eShop, and social channels. “KAi represents how we are reimagining what service can be for Filipinos,” said Adel Tamano, chief commercial officer of DITO, who accepted the award in Macao. “When technology works seamlessly in the background, it unlocks…

PLDT Home is now offering fiber speeds of up to 300 Mbps as demand for fast, reliable home connectivity continues to grow. The upgrade builds on its original 50 Mbps offer, with customers now able to choose from 100 Mbps and 300 Mbps plans. This is for households juggling video calls, online classes, streaming, and gaming across multiple devices. “At PLDT Home, our focus is simple: to support Filipinos as they navigate today’s challenges,” said John Palanca, SVP and head of consumer business of PLDT. “Our Fiber Prepaid portfolio remains the most extensive in the market, delivering value and flexibility…

A decade after Diwata-1 microsatellite entered orbit, its most lasting impact is the disaster response capability it helped build on the ground. The goal to develop a local satellite program came after Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) exposed a gap. In 2013, the Philippines struggled to access timely satellite imagery to assess damage and guide response, highlighting dependence on foreign data sources. That gap led to a national effort to build homegrown capability. Filipino engineers were trained overseas to design and operate Earth observation satellites, culminating in Diwata-1’s deployment on April 27, 2016 from the International Space Station. The mission established the…

Consumer tech brand TechLife has entered the portable display segment with the release of its first external screen, the TechLife Portable Monitor 15.6-inch, aimed at users juggling work, entertainment, and creative tasks. Marketed as a second screen for laptops, smartphones, and gaming consoles, the TechLife Portable Monitor is designed with mobility and ease of use in mind. It is for people working in cafés, shared spaces, or on the move, where adding screen space without carrying bulky equipment is a priority. The 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display delivers 1920×1080 resolution, offering clear visuals and wide viewing angles for multitasking, presentations,…

Technology company Microsoft returning to the Xbox brand, according to an internal memo published on Xbox Wire. The memo, written by Xbox leaders Matt Booty and Asha Sharma and shared with employees globally, indicates that the move is a reset in how the company presents its gaming ecosystem to players, developers, and partners. “We are Xbox,” the memo said, indicating a shift toward a single, consumer-facing identity across console, PC, and cloud. The message acknowledges ongoing challenges, pointing to player frustration and the need to simplify the experience across devices and services. It also emphasizes accountability and a renewed focus…

Indoor air quality is becoming a growing concern for Filipino households as humidity, dust, and allergens continue to affect daily comfort. Technology company Xiaomi is making its latest devices as a solution, promoting what it calls “Total Indoor Air Management” through its AIoT ecosystem. To achieve its goal, the company introduces two products: the Mijia Smart Air Purifier 6 and the Xiaomi Smart Dehumidifier Lite. Designed to work together, the devices aim to address both airborne pollutants and excess moisture, two factors that commonly impact indoor environments in tropical climates like the Philippines. The Mijia Smart Air Purifier 6 is…

CloudMile won four Partner of the Year awards at Google Cloud Next 2026, including Southeast Asia Partner of the Year, signaling strong demand for AI and cloud transformation across Asia and the Philippines. The awards, given by Google Cloud, recognize partners with high performance in technical delivery, customer impact, and revenue growth. CloudMile also secured two Asia Pacific (APAC) awards in Databases and Infrastructure Modernization: Migration, highlighting its work in large-scale database upgrades and zero-downtime cloud migration. CloudMile said it has served more than 1,400 enterprises globally, helping companies modernize legacy systems and move workloads to the cloud without disrupting…

Laptops powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors are now available in the Philippines, expanding access to AI-powered PCs across consumer and business segments. The new chips, first introduced at CES 2026, are designed for AI workloads, faster graphics, and longer battery life. Devices from brands such as ASUS, Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and MSI are now being sold through local retailers. “The introduction of Intel Core Ultra Series 3 systems in the Philippines is an important milestone as AI becomes more relevant to how people learn, work, create, and do business,” said George Chacko, GM Sales Group Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand,…

SINGAPORE — As ASEAN consumers face a “triple-hit” of rising fuel costs, inflation, and economic volatility, leaders from some of the region’s major financial and technology companies highlight fintech’s and government’s role to enable economic resilience in a region currently navigating global shocks. Talking about the situation in the Philippines, Martha Sazon, president and CEO of Mynt, the parent company of GCash, shared how the platform has strengthened its role as a primary distribution channel for government relief—taking a page from its playbook on how it helped keep the local economy running and aid flowing when mobility was restricted during…

realme released the realme 16 Series 5G in the Philippines, expanding its lineup with three models: realme 16 Pro+ 5G, realme 16 Pro 5G, and realme 16 5G. The Pro variants carry a 200MP Multi-focal LumaColor camera system aimed at improving detail across different zoom levels. The realme 16 Pro+ 5G includes a 50MP 3.5x telephoto lens for portrait and zoom shots, while the realme 16 Pro 5G uses the same 200MP main sensor without the telephoto lens. The realme 16 5G uses a dual 50MP camera setup with a Sony IMX852 sensor, best for everyday photography. Across the lineup,…