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🇹🇭 Thailand /Technology

Thailand aims to be AI and data hub by 2035

From Bangkok Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Thailand aims to become a regional AI and data center hub by 2035, focusing on robotics and green digital infrastructure.
  • The UTCC AI Institute, launched by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, will drive business AI development.
  • Experts emphasize local AI inference model operation for business value and data sovereignty, alongside green energy solutions for digital infrastructure.

Thailand is poised to become a leading regional hub for artificial intelligence and data centers by 2035, with a strategic focus on robotics and sustainable digital infrastructure. The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) has launched its AI Institute, aiming to foster business AI development and position the country as a key player in the burgeoning AI economy.

We are entering an AI economy.

— Djitt LaowattanaExecutive board member of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and board chairman of the Robotics and AI Committee, speaking at the launch of the UTCC AI Institute.

Experts highlight the need for Thailand to move beyond simply hosting foreign data centers. They advocate for encouraging these hyperscale facilities to run AI inference models locally. This strategy is seen as crucial for generating genuine business value, protecting national data sovereignty, and building a profitable data industry. The focus is on applying AI to real-world business solutions, as a significant portion of the global AI market centers on downstream applications.

While Thailand is attracting foreign data centre investment from Western and Chinese companies, simply hosting them is not enough to build a true, profitable data industry.

— Djitt LaowattanaExplaining the need for local AI inference model operation.

The nation also has aspirations to become a manufacturing and service hub for humanoid robots. With declining industrial robotics costs and new government incentives, Thailand can leverage existing foreign investment in its industrial zones. The strategy involves developing specialized software platforms for robots in sectors like healthcare and security, rather than solely focusing on hardware assembly.

Running these models locally will generate real business value and protect Thailand's data sovereignty.

— Djitt LaowattanaHighlighting the benefits of local AI inference model operation.

Furthermore, the development of AI and data centers necessitates a strong commitment to green energy. Prioritizing smart grids, energy storage, direct power purchase agreements, and solar farms is essential to ensure at least 30% of the energy powering this digital infrastructure comes from renewable sources. The UTCC AI Institute, along with academic collaborations, aims to urgently build Thailand's talent pool in AI and robotics.

it was crucial to develop smart grids, energy storage, direct power purchase agreements and solar farms to guarantee that at least 30% of the energy powering this digital infrastructure comes from renewable sources.

— Djitt LaowattanaStressing the importance of green energy for digital infrastructure.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Bangkok Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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