At the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos, Martha Sazon, CEO of Mynt, the parent company of GCash, represented the Philippine fintech industry during the panel session “Leaving Asia’s Comfort Zone.” The discussion focused on how emerging technologies like AI can drive inclusive economic growth across Asia.
Sazon shared how GCash, the leading Filipino fintech platform, has successfully utilized AI to foster financial inclusion, particularly for underserved populations. With innovative tools like GScore, it uses AI to assess creditworthiness based on in-app activity, helping users bypass traditional requirements such as documentation and collateral to access loans. Additionally, AI is leveraged to personalize user experiences and enhance platform security, including facial recognition for account safety.
During the panel, Sazon emphasized the importance of collaboration between AI and human workers. She pointed out that AI can be a powerful tool for improving services, but it requires a skilled workforce to make the most of it. This sentiment was echoed by other panelists, who discussed the need for public-private collaboration to upskill the workforce, with a focus on ethical AI use, critical thinking, and adaptability.
Sazon also highlighted the positive impact of fintech adoption in the Philippines, which has significantly increased financial access. Since the introduction of the first-ever eKYC process and the rise of cashless payments, the banked population in the Philippines has grown from 29% to 65%. Today, GCash serves over 94 million users, offering them access to a wide range of financial services from loans to insurance.
As the panel concluded, Sazon expressed her excitement about Asia’s potential to lead in the “Intelligent Age” through its agility, adaptability, and collaborative culture, which will help accelerate the region’s digital transformation.
