Smart Communications, Inc. and Amihan Global Strategies, Inc. have launched AI.Smart, an artificial intelligence workspace that gives Smart and TNT subscribers access to multiple AI models and productivity tools, with credit packages starting at ₱49.
Powered by Amihan’s Avtica platform, AI.Smart allows subscribers to pay directly through their prepaid or postpaid mobile accounts, removing the need for a credit card typically required by many premium AI services.
The platform is designed as an integrated AI workspace rather than a standalone chatbot. Users can ask questions about uploaded files, generate answers with citations, draft and summarize documents, create spreadsheets and presentations, generate images, and analyze data from a single interface.
AI.Smart supports English, Filipino and Taglish, with Smart and Amihan positioning the service for students, freelancers, families and small businesses seeking more affordable access to AI tools.
“Millions of Filipinos already run their lives, their studies, and their online shopping and freelancing on a Smart connection. AI.Smart puts a real AI assistant right beside it, one that understands Filipino, respects your privacy, and can be paid for through your existing prepaid or postpaid account,” said Lloyd Manaloto, First Vice President and Head of Strategy and Corporate Brand at Smart Communications.
Manaloto said the ₱49 entry-level package could enable students to use AI for exam preparation and research, while freelancers could use the platform to turn client notes into proposals. Families could also use the service for tasks such as planning trips, budgets and celebrations.
AI.Smart runs in a dedicated Amazon Web Services (AWS) environment provisioned for Smart, with AI model inference provided through Amazon Bedrock.
The platform provides access to models and AI technologies from Amazon Nova, Anthropic’s Claude, Google Gemini, OpenAI and Thinking Machines, allowing the system to select models suited to different tasks.
According to the companies, subscriber data uploaded to AI.Smart is not used to train AI models. Data is encrypted while stored and transmitted, with the platform designed to comply with the Philippine Data Privacy Act.
“The next billion AI users will not come from Silicon Valley. They will come from Manila, Jakarta, Mexico City, Bogotá, Lagos, and Dhaka, and they will arrive on a prepaid phone,” said Amihan Global Strategies CEO Winston Damarillo.
Damarillo said the approach combines locally priced AI services with payment methods already commonly used by mobile subscribers, with the Philippines serving as the initial market for the model.
AWS Philippines Country Manager Precious Lim said Amazon Bedrock enables developers to access multiple AI models and deploy them for applications tailored to local users. “When a student in Cebu can reach for the same AI tools as a developer in Seattle, that’s the democratization of technology in action,” Lim said.
AI.Smart offers four credit packages that can be used across chats, documents, spreadsheets, images and presentations. The Solo package costs ₱49 and is valid for seven days, while Flex costs ₱99 for 14 days. Pro costs ₱149 for 30 days, and Max costs ₱499 for 30 days. Pro and Max packages may also be shared with a team or family.
Subscribers can purchase packages within AI.Smart and charge the amount directly to their Smart or TNT mobile account. Transactions are confirmed through a one-time PIN sent by SMS, after which credits are added to the subscriber’s account.
Amihan said the platform was designed as a model that could eventually be deployed in other emerging markets by combining mobile operators, local cloud infrastructure, AI models, local-language support and country-specific payment systems.
Avtica plans to pursue similar deployments with telecommunications operators and cloud partners in Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa and South Asia.
AI.Smart became available to Smart and TNT subscribers on Sept. 18 through the AI.Smart platform and the LiveSmart app. Subscribers who download and register on the new LiveSmart app may also have an opportunity to receive complimentary AI.Smart access.