• Thailand invests US$770M for 2026–2027 to advance AI via a public-private consortium and nine CoEs.
• CoEs in sectors like education and healthcare must develop AI readiness plans by September 2025.
• The plan supports workforce training, data infrastructure, and aims for top 50 global AI readiness by 2027.

Thailand's National AI Committee, headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society Prasert Chantarawongthong, has approved a 25 billion baht (US$770 million) investment for the National Artificial Intelligence Development Framework for 2026–2027. The goal of the framework is to support Thailand's adoption of artificial intelligence, leading to innovation and economic growth.

 Key components of the framework involve establishing a public-private consortium led by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to compare the adoption/dissemination of AI systems, creating nine AI Centers of Excellence, and developing and upgrading the infrastructure for AI to achieve sustainable development.

Also Read: Thailand Launches New Measures to Boost EV Industry Development

The seven focus areas for the CoEs are: education, creative industries, innovation, tourism, healthcare, manufacturing, and safety and security and a ten CoE is still under consideration. The CoEs will also have a sector-specific AI readiness plan by September in 2025. The new initiative also endorses the establishment of new Thai Large Language Model Network Group, Government AI Processing Centre, and an AI Product Competency Calibration and Standards Testing Centre to encourage and maintain innovation and quality standards.

According to Thailand's National AI Strategy (2022-2027), there have been investment funds for 30,000 AI professionals, a National Data Bank, and improving physical digital infrastructure. The National AI Strategy will put Thailand, by 2027, in the top 50 in the world on the Government AI Readiness Index, develop 100 AI R&D prototypes, and provide a 48 billion baht economic impact.

 The investment will enhance Thailand's overall readiness with countries like Singapore and Malaysia and improve sectors like healthcare, tourism, and agriculture using AI. Thailand's National AI Strategy focuses on the ethical use of AI. The investment includes targeting the awareness of 600,000 citizens on ethical AI along with government regulation on the use AI. Implementation will be managed by a National AI Office.