MANILA — Smart Communications and AI technology firm Amihan Global Strategies have launched "Ai.Smart," a localized artificial intelligence workspace designed to expand digital access in emerging markets by eliminating the need for credit cards.
The platform allows Smart and TNT mobile subscribers to purchase AI access directly through prepaid load or postpaid accounts. Entry-level credit packs start at P49 for a seven-day plan, bypassing the roughly $20 monthly fees and credit card requirements of standard global AI services.
“At P49 for a week, a student can get help with exam preparation or a research paper, a freelancer can turn client notes into a polished proposal, and a family can plan a trip, a budget, or a celebration," said Lloyd Manaloto, First Vice President and Head of Strategy and Corporate Brand, Smart Communications
Hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS) using Amazon Bedrock, Ai.Smart consolidates multiple advanced models—including Anthropic’s Claude, Google Gemini, OpenAI, Amazon Nova, and Thinking Machines—into a single workspace.
Users can draft documents, generate presentations, create spreadsheets, and analyze data in English, Filipino, or Taglish. The system encrypts subscriber uploads and guarantees that data will not be used to train AI models.
"The next billion AI users will not come from Silicon Valley. They will come from Manila, Jakarta, Mexico City, and Lagos, and they will arrive on a prepaid phone," said Winston Damarillo, chief executive of Amihan and Avtica.
Aimed at students, freelancers, and small business owners, the service provides a blueprint for tech adoption in developing nations. Amihan and technology partner Avtica plan to roll out similar mobile-billed AI platforms across Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa, and South Asia.