Companies in the Philippines that began integrating artificial intelligence ahead of their competitors are seeing some of the highest reported gains from the technology, with returns reaching up to ₱10 for every ₱1 invested, according to findings linked to Microsoft's latest report on global AI adoption.
The study, , says "frontier firms" -- organizations that moved beyond small pilots and deployed AI at scale -- are capturing disproportionate value across sectors.
While the report is global, available local data show that early adopters in finance and telecommunications are already recording strong financial impacts from their AI programs.
These companies are applying AI not only for automation but across customer service, risk management, product development, and operations, generating gains that go beyond efficiency improvements.
Microsoft notes that these early movers tend to build or customize their own AI tools and embed AI into core processes, which accelerates returns.
The strong ROI trend is emerging as Filipino workers and executives embrace AI at higher rates than the global average.
Recent local findings indicate that 86% of knowledge workers in the country use AI tools, and 89% of business leaders say adopting AI is essential to remain competitive.
However, the report also points to governance gaps: 83% of employees bring their own AI tools to work, often without formal policies in place.
Microsoft says organizations that wish to replicate the outsized returns of early adopters will need clearer strategies, stronger responsible-AI practices, and investments in internal capability building.
The findings suggest that Philippine firms that delay large-scale AI adoption may risk falling further behind as early movers continue to reap significant financial and operational advantages.