The Philippines is set to develop its first artificial intelligence-powered Intelligent City after Ayala Corporation, Globe Telecom, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines, and KDDI Corporation agreed to jointly study and develop the initiative in the Makati Central Business District.
The project seeks to integrate artificial intelligence, advanced telecommunications, digital infrastructure, and data-driven technologies into a single urban ecosystem to improve how the city operates. The companies said the initiative will explore the use of real-time data and digital connectivity to make transportation, energy management, commercial services, and other city operations more efficient.
Unlike traditional urban developments, the proposed Intelligent City is designed to use AI and connected digital systems to analyze information from across the city, allowing services and infrastructure to respond more quickly to changing conditions. The technology is intended to improve mobility, optimize energy use, strengthen connectivity, and enhance the overall efficiency of business and public services.
The companies selected Makati as the pilot site because it is one of the country’s largest business districts, home to thousands of businesses, offices, residents, and daily commuters. The dense urban environment is expected to provide a suitable setting for testing AI-powered technologies that could later be adopted in other Philippine cities.
KDDI said the project will draw on technologies and experience from its Intelligent City initiatives in Japan, including digital platforms that aggregate and analyze data from residents, workers, visitors, and city facilities to improve urban planning and service delivery. The company said it plans to adapt those technologies for Makati in partnership with Ayala, Globe, and Mitsubishi.
If implemented, the Makati development would become the Philippines’ first AI-powered Intelligent City and could serve as a model for future smart city projects as the country expands its digital infrastructure and adopts more data-driven urban technologies.
