AI 2.0 and the Next Big Shift for Business Growth and Innovation

The buzz around AI keeps growing, but what does it actually mean for your business? One of our sessions at this year’s SaaScon PH brought together top minds in tech, outsourcing, and digital strategy. They shared what AI’s next wave means for companies in the Philippines and how to get ahead of it.

The session was led by Philip Amores, VP for People and Culture at KMC Solutions. Panelists included:

• Unni Pillai, Head of Technology, AWS Philippines
• Pushkar Misra, President and CEO, Hinduja Global Solutions
• Dr. Alexander Titov, Co-founder, International Digital Economies Association (iDEA)
• Macario “Mac” Fojas, President, Seven Seven Global Services

Whether you’re building AI into your product or figuring out where it fits in your operations, the session affirmed that it’s changing how businesses grow.

Here’s what we learned.

AI used to be about speed and automation. Now, it’s about working smarter together. That shift is what panelists called the move from AI 1.0 to AI 2.0.

Pillai shared a simple way to understand this change. AI 1.0 helped businesses automate tasks and reduce friction, but AI 2.0 is more focused on driving efficiency through augmentation.

He also explained what this looks like in real work. “How a developer should have a copilot with them. How an agent, contact center agent or a customer service agent should have an AI agent there helping them be more effective.”

The fear around AI is also fading. “Enterprises and industries are not scared of AI anymore,” Unni said.

Now, the focus is on how AI can support people and unlock new ways to work smarter.

For Fojas, January 10, 2025 is the clear starting point of AI 2.0. That was the launch date of DeepSeek, an open-source language model.

Mac traced the timeline back to 1950, when Alan Turing first introduced the concept of AI. But in his view, the real momentum began on November 30, 2022. “That’s when Chat GPT was launched,” he said. “AI exploded.”

DeepSeek marked a new chapter. “This will allow developers, companies to build their own LLMs,” Mac explained. “We sliced a part of DeepSeek and ran it on-prem, offline. It works.”

For businesses, this shift means more control and better data security. “Enterprise companies are afraid,” he said. “Because when you feed data to these LLMs, you don’t know where it’s going.”

Open platforms like DeepSeek could help unlock safer and faster AI adoption on your own terms.

Not every country needs AI for the same reasons. Dr. Titov spoke from the lens of what he called the global digital majority. This includes regions like Asia, Africa, and Latin America, which now account for over 80% of the world’s population and a growing share of global GDP.

He explained that AI strategies in these regions can’t copy what’s working in Europe or the US. “They are happy to replace the labor because the population is aging,” he said. But in the global majority, “what we need… is augmentation of labor.”

Dr. Titov stressed that these countries face different realities, such as food insecurity, natural disasters, and healthcare gaps.

“What we need in the global majority, better health access, right? Safer environment, smart city solutions, architect of food security… disaster recovery… supporting of small and medium enterprises.”

He also pointed out that not all AI value lies in large language models. While tools like ChatGPT can support tasks like research or coding, they are not always the most urgent solutions.

In many markets, the bigger opportunity lies in practical, everyday use cases that serve local needs.

The panel also explored how some industries are already deep into their AI journey. One example is business process outsourcing.

Misra shared how the BPO sector has always evolved with new waves of tech. “Every few years the work we do completely transforms,” he said.

With ties to multiple industries and global clients, BPOs have adopted AI across many use cases. These include fraud detection, credit scoring, and workforce planning.

Pushkar emphasized the scale. “It is the largest employer… as of now in the Philippines. One point seven million Filipinos and several downstream jobs.”

He also highlighted where the opportunity lies. “The biggest part of the industry is the people.” The focus now is on training teams and sharing lessons with others, especially smaller businesses.

The panel explored how Filipino businesses can apply AI 2.0 today not just to boost efficiency, but to create an edge.

AI 2.0 creates opportunities beyond cost savings. It can reshape how teams work, and how companies compete.

Here’s what that could look like:

• Sales and marketing teams using AI to personalize campaigns
• HR leaders using AI to identify development needs and improve retention
• Customer support teams using AI agents to speed up resolutions

At Sprout, we’re already seeing this happen through Insight and Performance+. These are tools that help HR teams turn workforce data into real business outcomes.

For us, the goal isn’t just automation. It’s about using data to grow stronger teams.

To wrap up the session, the panel shared advice for Filipino leaders who want to take the next step with AI.

Start small. Experiment fast. Look for simple ways to begin, like using AI in performance reviews, feedback, or internal knowledge sharing.

“Use AI because you don’t have to fear AI,” said Pillai. “You need to learn to dance with AI.”

Fojas added a firm reminder: “The worst thing you can do is not get involved.”

They also shared four key moves:

• Shift your mindset. Treat AI as a partner, not a threat.
• Upskill your people. AI is only powerful if teams know how to use it.
• Support innovation. Give your teams the time and space to test tools.
• Make it local. Use strategies that fit your market and customers.

The key is you don’t need a massive budget to get started. You just need a vision on how to move forward.

AI 2.0 is about building better strategies for growth. But to unlock its full value, businesses need to go beyond curiosity.

It starts with a mindset shift on what the goal should be. Make technology work for your people. Use it to solve real problems. And stay ahead in a fast-moving market.

At Sprout, we believe in the same principle. This is why our tools are designed to help HR and business leaders apply AI in ways that are clear, useful, and measurable.

Learn more about how Filipino businesses are turning AI into a growth advantage. Explore our blog, thought leadership materials, and upcoming events. 

Missed this year’s SaaScon PH? Catch the recap and hear the full panel insights on how to lead in the age of AI. To learn more about Sprout, check out our website!