อ่านบทความนี้เป็นภาษาไทย
A doctor in Bangkok analyzes medical images with AI, leading to a faster, more accurate diagnosis for her patient. In the fields of central Thailand, a farmer relies on AI-powered insights to conduct rice diagnosis and soil analysis, optimizing crop yields. These are not distant dreams, but the unfolding reality of AI’s transformative power in Thailand.
From healthcare to agriculture, AI is beginning to reshape industries and empower individuals across the nation. While the journey is still ongoing, the potential for AI to drive economic growth, improve lives, and solve pressing challenges is immense.
In this blog post, we will take a closer look at how AI will transform Thailand’s economy, including in building robust and secure digital infrastructure. We will also delve into how Google’s AI-powered products and solutions are helping to unlock Thailand’s potential, enabling businesses to thrive and individuals to flourish.
Accelerating AI adoption for Thai businesses
Thailand’s tech scene is a hotbed of innovation, with startups and established companies alike embracing AI to drive growth and create new opportunities. The government has played a crucial role in fostering this ecosystem, launching initiatives to support tech entrepreneurship and attract investment in AI and related technologies.
This proactive approach to AI development is encapsulated by the comprehensive National AI Strategy and Action Plan (2022 – 2027) (NAIS), focusing on key areas such as regulation and ethics, AI infrastructure, workforce development, research and innovation, and AI adoption across public and private sectors.
Last year, we shared that the adoption of AI can assist Thailand in developing a robust digital economy, unlocking THB 2.6 trillion in economic benefits for businesses in 2030—making up 15% of the 2030 AI opportunity for Southeast Asia.
Our research shows that key strategic sectors, particularly manufacturing, consumer, retail and hospitality, and transport services, are expected to benefit from AI adoption.
Breakdown of potential annual economic benefits from AI-enabled technologies, by sector (%, 2030)
Everyday access to AI with Google
Thai businesses have been accessing AI through Google’s AI-powered products and solutions. We estimate that:
In 2023, Google Search, Google Ads, Google AdSense, Google Play, Google Cloud and YouTube helped provide THB 174.2 billion of economic activity for businesses.
This includes:
- 40% of the economic activity (THB 69.4 billion) gained by small and medium businesses
- THB 22.9 billion of export benefits
In 2023, Google Search, Google Ads, Google AdSense, Google Play, and YouTube helped provide THB 22.9 billion of export benefits from overseas markets for local businesses. - 184,100 jobs
In 2023, Google supported 184,100 jobs by helping businesses expand through their use of Google Search, Google Ads, Google AdSense, Google Cloud, and YouTube. An additional 93,000 jobs were supported by the Android app economy.
Diverse local businesses from fashion, to healthcare, have leveraged Google’s AI-powered products and solutions to scale their operations. Read more about how pharmaceutical company Thai Otsuka tapped AI within Google’s ad solutions to boost revenue by 44%, and how KASIKORN Business-Technology Group (KBTG) Labs innovated an AI solution with Google Cloud.
Under a strategic collaboration with the Thai government, Google has partnered with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) to accelerate public sector AI adoption, tapping Google Cloud technologies to deploy generative AI solutions for public good. Priority areas include e-government services, financial technology, healthcare, education, and transportation.
Building robust and secure digital infrastructure
To accelerate AI adoption, investing in robust and secure digital infrastructure has never been more critical. In fact, AI will prove to be an essential ally in creating a safe online environment that empowers AI innovation. We found that if businesses deploy AI-powered cybersecurity capabilities, THB 150 billion of cybercrime losses could be prevented for Thailand in 2030.
Boosting digital infrastructure with Google
Google has been partnering with Thailand to enhance the cybersecurity ecosystem. Besides helping Thais to build online safety skills through the Safer Songkran initiative, the tech company has partnered with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) to launch an enhanced Google Play Protect security feature in April 2024. The second country in the world to benefit from this feature, Thai users are protected from high-risk app installations from unknown sources.
[A screenshot of the security feature]. 2024. [Image]. Google.
In addition to contributing to a secure online environment Google has also been investing in boosting Thailand’s digital infrastructure. The latest is an US$1 billion investment to build a data center in Chonburi and a Google Cloud region in Bangkok.
“The Royal Thai Government deeply appreciates Google’s ongoing partnership to strengthen our digital economy, particularly its efforts in the past five years to train millions of Thais in critical digital skills, and its latest plans to equip even more citizens with the tools and knowledge needed for the jobs of tomorrow,” said Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
These initiatives contribute to building up the capacity of Thailand’s digital infrastructure that supports AI-powered innovation and economic growth.
Equipping Thais with AI-ready skills
In order to leverage the AI opportunity to its fullest, Thailand must have an AI-ready workforce. Under the NAIS, THB 1.5 billion has recently been earmarked for flagship projects, out of which THB 1 billion is to be used for growing the country’s pool of AI-skilled workers by 30,000.
Encouragingly, recent research shows that Thai workers are already embracing AI in their everyday lives, with 92% of knowledge workers using AI at work—this is notably higher than the global average of 75%. A digitally savvy population quick to embrace new technologies lays a strong foundation for further AI adoption.
Building an AI-ready workforce with Google
Google is helping to equip Thais with the digital and AI skills necessary to thrive in the rapidly evolving technological landscape. Since 2019 Google has trained more than 3.6 million Thais in digital skills. Some of the latest programs include:
- Samart Skills: more than 13,000 students and job seekers have been trained on in-demand digital skills.
- Gemini Academy: Recognizing the importance of AI literacy in education, Google has trained 20,000 teachers through Gemini Academy, ensuring they can effectively guide the next generation. 96% of those trained said AI provides support in their teaching.
Google is also reducing barriers to AI education by making essential resources freely available, such as the Introduction to Generative AI Learning Path through Google Cloud Skills Boost, and the recently launched Google AI Essentials, which helps to equip people with future-ready skills, all in under 10 hours with zero experience required.
To further democratize AI knowledge, Google.org has launched a new USD15 million AI Opportunity Fund this year to support the development of critical AI skills and build confidence among workers and job-seekers, particularly those in underserved communities across the APAC region, including Southeast Asia.
Another initiative building inclusivity and accessibility to AI is Google’s collaboration with AI Singapore on Project SEALD to make Large Language Models (LLMs) more inclusive for Southeast Asian users by enhancing datasets for local languages, including Thai.
Through these comprehensive efforts, Google is fostering an AI-ready workforce in Thailand, empowering individuals and communities to embrace AI’s transformative potential and contribute to a thriving digital economy.
Towards an Inclusive and Prosperous AI-Driven Thailand
Thailand stands on the cusp of an AI-powered transformation. From revolutionizing healthcare to optimizing agriculture, AI’s impact is already being felt across the nation. The potential for further economic growth, societal advancement, and improved lives is immense.
Google’s AI-powered products and solutions are already empowering businesses and individuals, driving innovation and creating economic opportunities. Investments in digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and AI education are further strengthening Thailand’s AI readiness.
However, the true potential of AI lies in collaboration. By working together—government, businesses, academia, and individuals—Thailand can navigate the challenges, seize the opportunities, and ensure that the benefits of AI are shared by all.
Important information:
This post has been prepared by Access Partnership for Google. All information in this post is derived or estimated by Access Partnership analysis using both non-Google proprietary and publicly available information. Google has not supplied any additional data, nor does it endorse any estimates made in this post.
