Fresh from winning the “Philippines Technology Excellence Award for AI – Transportation” at the 2025 Asian Technology Excellence Awards, inDrive is reinforcing its mission to prove that artificial intelligence can empower people rather than replace them.
This recognition is more than just a trophy for a ride-hailing app; it’s a landmark moment that highlights the growing maturity of the Philippine tech scene and offers a blueprint for how AI can revolutionize adjacent industries, including fintech.
The award celebrates inDrive’s innovations in urban mobility, which are built on the principles of fairness, transparency, and user choice — concepts that resonate deeply in a market as dynamic as the Philippines.
Mark Tolley (center), APAC Director at inDrive, after receiving the award
“We are deeply honored to receive this award,” said Mark Tolley, APAC Director at inDrive. “This recognition is not just about our technology; it’s about the people it serves. This inspires us to use AI to amplify user autonomy, ensure fairness, and create safer experiences for both our passengers and partner drivers.”
Human-centric AI in action
In a country where commuters are highly sensitive to fare costs, inDrive’s human-centric AI model stands out.
Instead of imposing algorithm-dictated surge pricing, the platform uses AI to facilitate a more equitable negotiation. It provides intelligent order matching, fair price suggestions based on government-approved matrices, and optimized routes, but crucially leaves the final fare agreement in the hands of the passenger and driver.
Beyond its unique pricing model, inDrive embeds sophisticated AI into features that enhance daily safety and efficiency:
- Machine vision: A photo-control system automatically verifies vehicle safety and roadworthiness, flagging issues before they affect a ride.
- Smart support: AI-assisted routing of customer support queries ensures that passengers and drivers get their issues resolved faster and more accurately.
- Predictive algorithms: These systems analyze real-time data to predict demand hotspots, guiding drivers to where they are needed most and reducing waiting times for commuters in congested cities like Metro Manila and Cebu.
Breaking barriers with generative AI and smart moderation
Communication is a significant hurdle in a nation with over a hundred dialects.
inDrive addresses this by integrating Google’s Gemini AI, which provides instant, context-aware translations within the app’s chat feature. This advanced Large Language Model (LLM) capably handles slang, typos, and informal phrasing in English, Tagalog, Cebuano, and other local dialects, leading to better booking rates and fewer misunderstandings.
Safety is also paramount.
AI-powered moderation systems actively scan booking notes and messages for inappropriate content or behavior. In the Philippines, this system has single-handedly reduced the misuse of ride instructions by over 300% in just three months, creating a safer digital space for everyone.
A catalyst for the Philippine fintech industry
inDrive’s success serves as a powerful case study for the Philippine fintech sector.
This award proves that a localized, fairness-driven application of AI can win consumer trust — the single most valuable commodity for any financial service.
Here’s how this win benefits the broader fintech landscape:
- Building digital trust: When Filipinos have positive, transparent experiences with AI on a daily-use app like inDrive, it lowers the barrier to trusting other digital platforms, including neobanks, investment apps, and digital lenders.
- Cross-pollinating technology: The AI models inDrive uses for user verification, fraud detection, and risk assessment are directly applicable to fintech’s Know-Your-Customer (KYC) processes, credit scoring, and anti-money laundering (AML) systems.
- Fueling the talent pool: High-profile success stories attract and nurture local AI and data science talent. This creates a skilled workforce that can drive innovation across all tech sectors, strengthening the entire ecosystem.
- Setting a precedent for regulation: inDrive’s model of balancing powerful AI with user control offers a valuable template for regulators as they develop policies for the ethical use of AI in financial services.
Mark Tolley (center) with Sofia Guinto (right), Business Development Head at inDrive Philippines
“To many, AI is a tool for efficiency. At inDrive Philippines, we see it as a driver of fairness and opportunity,” shares Sofia Guinto, Business Development Head at inDrive Philippines. “This recognition underscores our commitment to making mobility accessible to all.”
The company’s recent acknowledgment as the “Preferred Ride-Hailing Partner” of Echelon Philippines 2025 further signals its intent to forge deeper collaborations with fintech players, tech innovators, and policymakers, creating a more integrated digital economy.
As the demand for reliable mobility solutions grows, inDrive is proving that technology guided by fairness can transform millions of lives. The company plans to expand its Superapp services in the Philippines, potentially introducing courier and grocery delivery, further embedding itself into the country’s digital fabric.
