Grab Introduces 13 AI Innovations at GrabX 2026, Promoting Role as "Everyday Intelligent Guide"

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Choosing lunch, determining the fastest travel route, or simply deciding when to start activities often feels trivial. However, behind those activities lies a series of small decisions that quietly consume time and energy, especially amid fast-paced urban life. Unexpected situations, such as rain during rush hour or differing preferences when dining, often make simple activities more complicated. At the GrabX 2026 event held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Jakarta on Wednesday (8/4/2026), Grab sought to enter those small spaces with a variety of its latest feature innovations. Not by changing its core services, but by adding artificial intelligence (AI) as a new layer. This technology works behind the scenes to help users carry out daily activities more practically. All the innovations are built on the Grab Intelligence Layer, an AI infrastructure that enables the system to understand real-time field conditions. In this way, Grab can help users and partners make decisions more quickly, accurately, and efficiently. Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Co-founder of Grab, Anthony Tan, views the development of AI technology as no longer just a trend. “We live in a world where those who do not adopt AI are very likely to be left behind. This is not a distant future. This is a reality we must face today,” Anthony stated. Anthony said that the adoption of AI in Grab’s ecosystem is the company’s effort to respond to greater changes, namely the acceleration of AI adoption that has the potential to create new gaps. He even admitted that this change does not entirely feel comfortable. “If this feels scary to you, it does to me too. Imagine the impact on a small vendor in Semarang or a 58-year-old single mother who is a driver in Hanoi,” he said. From there, according to him, important questions arise regarding the AI-based future. “In the race towards an AI-based future, will they be left behind? At Grab, we believe the answer is no,” he stated. Therefore, Grab emphasises that the benefits of AI must be felt by all parties. Not only by customers, but also by Driver Partners and business actors. Anthony called this approach part of the “AI-First with Heart” philosophy, which brings advanced technology with an approach that remains focused on everyday human needs. “Imagine 6:30 pm in Manila. Raining, traffic jams, and everyone wants to go home. Why not share a ride?” he said. However, according to him, the practice of ride-sharing is often not as simple as that. “Who gets off first? Who pays first? All that becomes complicated for a journey that should be simple,” he remarked.