AI Hub: Regional Blueprint Unveiled

Thailand Aims to Become Regional AI Hub by 2026

Thailand is setting its sights on becoming a leading artificial intelligence (AI) hub in Southeast Asia by 2026. This ambitious goal is spearheaded by the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (Etda), which is focusing on bolstering digital trust, promoting advanced AI technologies, and fostering collaborative regulatory frameworks for digital platform services.

Etda’s strategy revolves around three core pillars, designed to enhance Thailand's competitiveness in the digital economy and ensure sustainable growth.

Strengthening Digital Infrastructure and Trust

The first strategic imperative focuses on building a robust and trustworthy digital infrastructure and ecosystem. This involves advancements across four key domains: digital ID, electronic documents, AI and data sharing, and cloud systems.

• Digital ID: Etda envisions a unified national digital identity system that connects 1,464 e-services across the public sector. The aim is to expand the use of digital IDs to the private sector, particularly within the tourism industry and digital platforms. This includes making digital ID accessible to legal entities, foreign nationals, and vulnerable populations. The agency also plans to promote the adoption of digital verification credentials and document wallets, supporting the second phase of the national digital ID framework.

• Data Sharing: To facilitate data sharing between the public and private sectors, Etda is developing comprehensive standards, ethical guidelines, and robust governance mechanisms. Pilot projects are underway in critical sectors such as healthcare, finance, and insurance, aiming to unlock the potential of data-driven innovation.

• Cloud Systems: Etda is actively supporting the digital transformation of the Thai government by encouraging the migration of public digital services and systems to secure and efficient cloud platforms. This move is expected to improve service delivery and reduce operational costs.

Accelerating AI Development and Adoption

The second key strategy involves accelerating the development and adoption of AI technologies across various sectors. Etda is taking concrete steps to establish Thailand as a regional AI powerhouse.

• AI Governance Practice Center: Etda is actively establishing an AI Governance Practice Center, which will serve as a central hub for national governance and international collaboration in the field of AI. This center will play a crucial role in shaping AI policies and promoting responsible AI development.

• AI Ethics Testing and Sandbox Programme: Recognizing the importance of ethical considerations in AI development, Etda is creating a rigorous framework for testing AI models and assessing their ethical impact. The AI ethics testing and sandbox programme aims to ensure that AI technologies are developed and deployed in a responsible and ethical manner.

• Empowering SMEs and Communities: Etda is committed to empowering Thai small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and local communities to harness the power of digital technologies to drive economic growth. The agency aims to support at least 1,000 SMEs in adopting digital technologies to improve their operations, with an expected economic impact of over 500 million baht. This initiative is projected to boost community income and simultaneously improve AI and digital literacy for more than 10,000 people across the nation.

• Digital Citizen Trainer Network: To promote digital literacy and inclusion, Etda has expanded its Digital Citizen Trainer Network to over 2,000 trainers, covering 878 districts throughout the country. Through this extensive network, more than 60,000 individuals have already received training, ensuring widespread outreach and inclusivity in digital education.

Strengthening Governance for Digital Platforms

The third strategic pillar focuses on strengthening shared governance mechanisms for digital platform services to enhance public trust in online interactions.

• Domestic and International Partnerships: Etda is actively expanding its network of domestic and international partnerships to enable more effective coordination in addressing the complex challenges associated with digital platforms. By working collaboratively with various stakeholders, Etda aims to create a safer and more trustworthy online environment for all users.

These three strategic imperatives highlight Thailand's commitment to fostering a thriving digital economy underpinned by trust, innovation, and inclusivity. By focusing on strengthening digital infrastructure, accelerating AI development, and enhancing digital platform governance, Thailand is well-positioned to achieve its ambitious goal of becoming a regional AI hub by 2026. The success of these initiatives will not only benefit the Thai economy but also contribute to the broader development of the digital ecosystem in Southeast Asia.