News

AI could help Philippines economy grow by US$ 31B: Google

Google willing to help country seize its AI opportunities

Published

August 12, 2025

GadgetMatch

The Philippines economy could grow by a whopping PhP 1.8 trillion (roughly US$ 31 billion) if the country harnesses the full potential of AI.

This is the key inference according to a new report by London-based public policy research agency Public First, which was commissioned by Google.

The “Turbocharging Growth: The Philippines’ AI Opportunity” report highlighted AI’s role as a key driver for the country to sustain its economic momentum.

The study mentions that AI is already part of many Filipinos’ lives, with around half of the population regularly using AI tools at least once a week.

Also, 46% of Filipinos are optimistic about AI’s potential for the country. Moreover, 50% are optimistic about its personal impact.

Boosting productivity, efficiency to drive gains

In a nutshell, the report says AI can help key Philippine sectors grow massively, including:

Wholesale and Retail
Finance and Insurance
Public Administration and Defense

AI technologies can significantly augment the productivity of 37% of the Filipino workforce. This includes increasing productivity for highly repetitive tasks in the public sector.

This can lead to up to a three-hour reduction per week in required time needed for administrative tasks, resulting to potential wage increases of over 6% and boosting average worker productivity by up to PhP 110,000 annually.

AI can also personalize the way citizens can solve problems, so they can mitigate losses.

For example, with the help of AI-powered solutions like modelling and taking into consideration data like weather reports, the agricultural industry can reduce the risk of crop failure.

The study even mentioned that by 2035, the Philippines’ agricultural economy can be improved by up to US$ 2 billion.

Moreover, AI can also save industries capital. Solutions can cut the costs from cybersecurity threats and fraud by half, or US$ 3.2 billion.

The Philippine local governments can also leverage AI to make sure funds do not go to waste.

For instance, if a local city or municipality decides to have a tree-planting project, Google’s Environmental Insights Explorer (Tree Canopy Lab) can guide them to choose the appropriate and sustainable area.

For its part, Google continues to offer the country help in terms of upskilling to ensure the workforce can thrive in an AI-driven economy.

It is also partnering with various government agencies and private parties to impart further knowledge about seizing the AI opportunity.

News

FIFA World Cup: Lenovo’s Referee View received positively by fans

Unique first-person perspective brings action closer to viewers

Published

July 13, 2026

GadgetMatch

Lenovo has revealed that technological advancements at the FIFA World Cup 2026 has made viewers “feel closer” to the action than ever before.

Surveying fans across Australia, Canada, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Lenovo bared that 87% say technology is improving the viewing experience.

Close-to-action camera perspectives have also help 84% of surveyed viewers, making them feel they’re right on the pitch.

Of course, Lenovo AI has introduced Referee View throughout the World Cup. This AI-powered technology gives viewers a first-person POV of the match from a referee’s perspective.

Lenovo Referee View has been featured on an average of three times per match across the tournament in over 220 countries and territories worldwide, according to preliminary FIFA data.

Through a lightweight camera mounted on the match official, the technology gives a first-person POV of the match.

And while raw footage is fast-moving and sometimes unstable, Lenovo’s AI-powered video analytics platform automatically transforms the clips into smooth, broadcast-quality video in real-time.

Other findings from Lenovo’s research include:

76% of viewers have seen or heard about Referee View
91% say the close-to-action Referee View POV is appealing
88% say smooth and stable footage is an important part of viewing sports footage
98% say clear picture quality has been important when watching the FIFA World Cup 2026
91% are interested in seeing more technology that creates immersive or close-to-action sports experiences

Apps

Netflix suddenly resurrects 30-day free trials

It’s available only in some countries.

Published

July 13, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Over the weekend, a report emerged about Disney+ allegedly considering a new tier offered to users for absolutely free. Apparently, Disney isn’t the only one. Netflix is now resurrecting its free trial program in select countries.

Back in the day, it was easy to get into Netflix. With a 30-day free trial, you can watch the shows you’ve always wanted to catch. If you liked what you saw, you can pay the monthly fee to access the entire library without constraints. Eventually, the platform got rid of this system to favor a cheaper ad-supported tier.

Perhaps not seeing the benefits of ad-supported tiers, Netflix has suddenly resurrected its free trial program. Spotted online (via Android Authority), some countries, including Brazil and India, are experimenting with the program again. New users can get 30 days of free Netflix access.

Because only regular users are spotting this (rather than an official announcement), we don’t have a list of where the free trials are available.

Still, it’s an interesting move. Cable isn’t a thing anymore so “cutting the cable” isn’t a popular phrase anymore, but people are definitely cancelling subscriptions over rising prices. Some even rely on short clips from YouTube to catch up with their shows. Having a free trial opens up more possibilities for users, but it remains to be seen whether it’s enough for users to return to Netflix.

Apps

Disney+ might get a free tier

What would you like to see in a free Disney+ tier?

Published

July 13, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

In a world disappointingly obsessed with increasing prices beyond our means, Disney+ has miraculously remembered the phrase, “free sample.” According to a report, the streaming platform is considering making a free subscription tier.

As of late, it’s been difficult to maintain a healthy collection of streaming services. When you have to pay the equivalent of a full-course meal every month for just a single platform, you start to evaluate which ones really matter.

Perhaps feeling the sting of users leaving the platform over pricing, Disney+ is reportedly experimenting with a tier that comes at no cost to users (via Business Insider). According to two sources, adding such a tier might help the platform reach customers more.

Now, it’s still a mystery how this tier might work. Disney+ already offers an ad-supported tier, so it’s unlikely to be another one like that.

One possibility is a heavily curated feed of content either designed specifically for free users or limited exactly to give users a free sample. For the latter, think of the limited content you get on a plane. Sure, you might get the first three episodes of The Mandalorian, but you’ll have to fork over cash if you want to see the rest of the story.

And for the former, you can imagine short-form content available for free. Going back to Star Wars, you might see a short anthology series like Star Wars: Visions.

Either way, it’s an interesting concept. If the tier does offer full content, it’s a great way to get into franchises you were thinking of trying without the need to spend for a taste.