The National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec) is seeking to facilitate local artificial intelligence (AI) development in Thailand, including the development of a Thai-language generative AI chatbot Open ThaiGPT. To launch the project, Nectec has worked in collaboration with the Artificial Intelligence Entrepreneur Association of Thailand (AIEAT), the Artificial Intelligence Association of Thailand (AIAT), and the NSTDA Supercomputer Center (ThaiSC). Open ThaiGPT will be distributed as a free, open-source, customizable software package. The soft launch of Open ThaiGPT is scheduled to be in May and will be available by June.
Nectec has also pledged to support startups’ development of AI to bolster Thailand's digital economy and encourage local innovation in AI. According to executive director Chai Wutitiwatchai, Nectec seeks to provide Thai developers and engineers with the necessary tools to create their own AI, noting Thailand’s reliance on international technologies and gaps related to skilled AI engineers and integrated data sharing. Nectec’s AI Thailand platform will provide AI infrastructure, including a government data center and cloud service, as well as AI tools and an AI platform to enable developers to scale up their AI products and services. Nectec is also responsible for assisting government agencies’ adoption of AI, highlighting the digitalization of the public sector as a favorable business opportunity for the private sector. Under the National AI Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2027), Thailand seeks to promote the development of at least 100 AI-related innovations and promote the use of AI by 600 government agencies.
