PLDT Inc.’s wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. is testing a new paid artificial intelligence service that could open another revenue stream for the telecom company as AI adoption accelerates in the Philippines.
Called AI.Smart, the service gives Smart and TNT subscribers access to multiple AI tools through a single platform, with packages starting at P49 for seven days. The service can be charged directly to a subscriber’s mobile account, allowing users to access paid AI features without a credit card.
The platform was developed with local technology companies and runs on Amazon Web Services, using Amazon Bedrock to connect users with multiple AI models. The service can assist with tasks such as document drafting and summarization, spreadsheet creation, presentation and image generation, data analysis and questions based on uploaded files.
Smart is offering several prepaid-style packages. The entry-level plan costs P49 for seven days, while other packages are priced at P99 for 14 days, P149 for 30 days and P499 for 30 days, giving users different levels of access depending on their expected usage.
The pricing strategy is designed around the way many Filipinos already purchase mobile services. Smart executives said the company sees millions of AI users within its network, but many currently rely on free versions of AI tools rather than paying for premium subscriptions.
Smart is therefore positioning AI.Smart as a lower-cost alternative for users who may not want to commit to a conventional monthly AI subscription. The service is also intended to make premium AI capabilities more accessible to students, freelancers, families and small businesses.
The platform can operate across English, Filipino and Taglish, while users can upload their own files and receive answers based on those materials. The service brings several AI model families into one workspace rather than requiring users to subscribe separately to multiple platforms.
For PLDT and Smart, the launch comes as telecommunications companies look beyond traditional connectivity services for additional sources of growth. Instead of simply providing the network through which customers access AI applications, Smart is seeking to participate directly in the AI services market.
The approach also reflects the importance of mobile billing in the Philippine market, where prepaid services remain widely used. By allowing customers to pay through their existing mobile accounts, Smart is lowering one of the barriers faced by consumers who do not use credit cards for online subscriptions.
AI.Smart is initially being positioned as an accessible consumer service, but its broader potential could extend to productivity and business applications as AI adoption grows. The initial rollout will provide Smart with an opportunity to assess demand, usage patterns and consumers’ willingness to pay for localized AI services.
The launch signals a shift in how telecom companies can participate in the AI economy: not only by supplying connectivity, but also by packaging AI capabilities into services that can be purchased directly through mobile accounts. For PLDT, the performance of AI.Smart could help determine whether artificial intelligence can develop into a meaningful new revenue stream alongside its core telecommunications businesses.
