As global economies increasingly rely on digital advancements, Thailand is urged to accelerate its adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) to boost productivity and maintain competitiveness. At a recent forum in Bangkok, experts highlighted the importance of enhancing digital skills, improving data capabilities, and fostering collaboration between governmental bodies, educational institutions, and businesses.
Yodchanan Wongsawat, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, emphasized the need for the country to focus on developing specialized technological capabilities rather than competing with larger economies in mass production. He identified agriculture, biodiversity, and environmental technology as sectors ripe for AI development, leveraging valuable local data.
Yodchanan further advocated for education to play a crucial role in Thailand’s AI strategy, emphasizing the importance of strengthening expertise in areas such as mathematics, science, algorithms, and entrepreneurship. He stressed the necessity for lifelong learning and the continuous reskilling of the workforce as technology evolves.
In addition, Kobsak Pootrakool of Bangkok Bank urged businesses to harness AI for productivity improvements, cautioning against using it merely as a demonstration project. He underscored the significance of having reliable, well-organized data for successful AI implementation and pointed to the growing influence of automation, robotics, and AI in manufacturing.
Jirayut Srupsrisopa, founder of Bitkub Capital Group, called for an AI-first approach across Thailand’s economy, suggesting that such a strategy could help address demographic and workforce challenges by boosting business productivity. The forum’s panelists collectively agreed that the key to successful AI adoption lies in robust education, enhanced data infrastructure, effective regulation, and greater cooperation between the public and private sectors.