Data Analytics and AI at Work

(Clockwise from top left) Ayala Managing Director and Head of Data Science and AI Karl Kendrick Chua; Ayala Data and Analytics (ADA) Community of Practice Advisers Michelle Alarcon of the Analytics Association of the Philippines and Dr. Prospero Naval of the University of the Philippines College of Engineering; and Ayala Analytics Manager Norman Lapid at the first ADA Insights Speaker Series event held on January 25

We formed this community of
practice to get everyone working
on data and analytics together to
learn from each other, to share
experiences, and to expand our
network. We also have the privilege
of having our advisors—experts in
the field of data, analytics and AI—
advising us in many aspects of our
work. [...] I look forward to many
more events of knowledge sharing,
partnership and collaboration for
the greater good.

KARL KENDRICK CHUA
AC Head of Data Science and AI

When developing data strategy, analytics, and artificial intelligence roadmaps, consideration for organizational design is as important as technology decisions. And whether a centralized, decentralized, hybrid, or some other structure works best comes down to asking: "What role do you want data to play in your company?" and "How are decisions made?".

Michelle Alarcon, president of Z-Lift Solutions and the Analytics Association of the Philippines, shared these thoughts with the Ayala Data and Analytics Community of Practice (ADA COP) during the first ADA Insights Speaker Series event held on January 25. She gave examples of data team structures in global and local companies and explained how these evolve.

"There's nothing to fear about AI," said Prof. Prospero Naval, head of the Computer Vision and Machine Intelligence Group at the UP College of Engineering. For the past 25 years, his laboratory has been executing data-driven projects that demonstrate "AI in the service of humanity."

With focus on environment and health and aligned with the sustainable development goals, these projects include Fish-i Technology to monitor and assess fish populations; an early warning system for thunderstorms; myBeshie, a telepresence terminal used to aid isolated COVID-19 patients; software for addressing poisoning incidents; and Remote Microscopy Diagnostics (ReMiDi) for monitoring malaria outbreaks.

The ADA COP was launched in November 2023 during the groupwide innovation summit to advance expertise and capabilities in data science and AI among practicing and aspiring data professionals in the Ayala group. The community will hold its next activity, ADA Bytes, a knowledge sharing event featuring BPI, Globe, and GCash, on February 27.