A portrait can show what someone looks like, but what about the story behind the face?

TECNO and visual artist Angélica Dass are exploring that question through “100 Portraits of Becoming,” a two-year global portrait project featuring 100 people across Kenya, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Brazil.

The project begins with 20 portraits from Kenya, each paired with a personal story about identity, choices, change, and growth. Rather than having participants represent an entire culture or generation, the project focuses on their individual experiences.

Beyond inclusive imaging

The project builds on TECNO’s work with Universal Tone, its imaging technology designed to represent diverse skin tones more naturally and accurately.

But “100 Portraits of Becoming” takes that idea further. With AI increasingly involved in capturing, recognizing, and generating images of people, TECNO and Dass want to explore how technology can better represent the individual behind the image.

For Dass, meaningful portraiture starts with human connection.

“Meaningful portraits are never created by technology alone.”

She says her experience in Kenya reinforced the importance of trust, listening, and the willingness of people to share their stories.

The Philippines is next

Following Kenya, the project heads to the Philippines for a chapter called “Beyond Many Labels.”

It will feature 20 individuals, including working solo mothers and people whose lives are closely connected to solo parenthood.

Their stories will look beyond labels such as “single mother,” “breadwinner,” and “strong woman,” while exploring their ambitions, relationships, and personal growth.

The chapter will also explore “diskarte” — the ways Filipinos adapt, make choices, and find practical ways forward in everyday life.

After the Philippines, “100 Portraits of Becoming” will continue to Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Brazil.

By the end of the project, TECNO and Dass hope the 100 portraits will offer exactly what the title suggests: 100 different ways of seeing humanity.

Globe recorded its strongest network performance of 2026 in August, according to the latest Telco Report Card from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

The telecommunications company achieved an overall score of 81.5, an increase of 4.4 points from January. Its average download speed also reached 45.9 Mbps, its fastest recorded speed this year.

The figure represents a 5.1% improvement over July and a 26% increase from the 36.5 Mbps recorded in January.

Globe also improved its network quality score from 69.2 to 71.2, while latency remained at 20 milliseconds.

The company attributed these improvements to its continued network investments, technology upgrades, and collaboration with government agencies, including the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

Globe invests in network reliability and expansion

Globe allocated PHP 26.3 billion in capital expenditures during the first half of 2026. The company directed 91% of that amount toward data-related initiatives.

Beyond improving download speeds, Globe continues to invest in technologies designed to maintain connectivity during network disruptions.

Its Automated Outage Response technology automatically optimizes nearby cell sites during outages. According to Globe, the system can retain up to 50% of data connectivity during disruptions, compared with less than 10% without the technology.

Globe also expanded its network coverage in underserved communities. In July, the company connected 52 previously unserved Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs).

This completed its commitment to activate mobile services across all 180 project locations under the DICT’s connectivity initiative.

Meanwhile, Ookla recognized Globe as the Most Consistent Mobile Provider for four consecutive reporting periods, based on Speedtest Intelligence data covering the second half of 2024 through the first half of 2026.

Globe General Counsel Atty. Froilan Castelo emphasized that the company still needs to improve connectivity in communities experiencing unreliable service.

The company plans to continue its network investments and targeted improvements to strengthen service reliability across the Philippines.

Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has launched AI.Smart, an affordable, one-stop artificial intelligence (AI) workspace that gives more Filipinos access to advanced AI tools.

Powered by Avtica, AI.Smart gives Smart and TNT subscribers access to multiple AI models through a single browser-based platform. These include AWS Nova, ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini, and Thinking Machines.

AI.Smart automatically selects the appropriate AI model based on a user’s prompt. Subscribers can generate content and images, create documents and presentations, and analyze data in English, Filipino, or Taglish.

Smart says each subscriber’s workspace keeps uploaded files private. The platform does not use these files to train AI models or retain subscriber data. It also encrypts data and handles it in accordance with the Philippine Data Privacy Act.

Bringing AI to more Filipinos

“AI should be for everyone, not just for those who can afford premium AI services,” said Lloyd R. Manaloto, Smart’s First Vice President and OIC.

“With AI.Smart, we are making AI more inclusive by bringing powerful AI models and tools together in one affordable platform, giving more Filipinos the opportunity to use AI to learn, create, work smarter, and achieve more,” Manaloto added.

Smart and TNT subscribers can sign up for AI.Smart using their mobile numbers and verify their accounts via SMS.

The platform offers several credit packs to suit different needs. Access starts at PHP 49 for seven days. Subscribers who need more credits can opt for the PHP 499 plan, which remains valid for 30 days and allows up to 10 users to share a pool of credits.

Subscribers can purchase additional credits through AI.Smart. Payment options include prepaid load, postpaid billing, credit and debit cards, and select e-wallets.

Free AI.Smart access

As a launch offer, Smart and TNT subscribers who sign up for AI.Smart can get a chance to enjoy seven days of free access.

Smart and TNT subscribers can also use AI.Smart with Smart 5G for mobile activities such as video streaming, gaming, and real-time social media sharing.

Smart recently received recognition from global connectivity intelligence leader Ookla for delivering the Best Mobile Video Experience in the Philippines for the first half of 2026. The company earned a Video Score of 72.82, the highest among mobile operators in the country.

For more information about AI.Smart, visit the official AI.Smart website.