As the global economy becomes increasingly driven by technology, Thailand is urged to accelerate its adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) to maintain competitiveness and enhance productivity. This call to action emerged from a forum in Bangkok, where experts emphasized the importance of strengthening digital skills, data capabilities, and fostering collaboration between the government, academia, and businesses.
Yodchanan Wongsawat, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Minister, highlighted the need for the country to carve out niches in areas where it can develop specialized technological capabilities rather than attempting to rival larger economies in mass production. He pointed to agriculture, biodiversity, and environmental technology as promising sectors for AI development, given their potential to generate valuable local data. Additionally, Yodchanan underscored the importance of advancing technologies like sensors, photonics, and advanced semiconductor packaging.
Education is seen as a cornerstone of Thailand’s AI strategy. Yodchanan advocated for a greater emphasis on mathematics, science, and systems thinking within educational curricula, alongside fostering creativity and entrepreneurship. He also stressed the need for continuous learning, reskilling, and upskilling to keep pace with technological advancements.
From the business perspective, Kobsak Pootrakool, an executive at Bangkok Bank, advised companies to integrate AI into their operations to boost productivity rather than using it for mere showcase projects. He emphasized the necessity of reliable, well-organized data to ensure successful AI implementation. Kobsak also pointed to growing roles for automation and robotics in manufacturing, recommending that both businesses and the government invest in technology, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks to support this shift.
Jirayut Srupsrisopa, founder of Bitkub Capital Group, advocated for an AI-first economic approach, suggesting that AI could alleviate some of the demographic and workforce challenges faced by Thailand. The forum’s panelists collectively agreed on the need for robust education, improved data infrastructure, effective regulation, and enhanced public-private cooperation to translate technological progress into comprehensive economic growth.