Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the primary objective of the TH-AI Passport initiative is to empower Thais with access to modern technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), which is rapidly transforming the world of work and reshaping economic competitiveness.

Anutin clarified that the TH-AI Passport is not an entirely new project, but rather an extension and enhancement of an existing initiative aimed at delivering more practical benefits to the public. The government has expanded the platforms and channels through which people can access AI tools, reducing previous limitations and creating greater opportunities for various groups to use the technology effectively.

Addressing the project's approximately one-month delay, Anutin said the postponement was prompted by public criticism and the need for further negotiations to improve the benefits available to users. Minister of Digital Economy and Society Chaiyanok Chidchob subsequently revised the project's terms of reference (TOR) to maximize public benefits before its official launch, despite the rollout coming later than the original July target.

A key objective of the initiative is to prepare Thais for a rapidly changing world. The government is prioritizing upskilling and reskilling because the impact of AI extends beyond manual labor. Employees, workers, professionals and others whose jobs rely heavily on knowledge and intellectual skills also need access to new tools that can improve their productivity and efficiency.

Responding to criticism that the project might prove ineffective, Anutin said the number of registrations on the first day of the program's launch should demonstrate the level of public demand for AI access.

"If the project had no value, there would not be so many registrations," he said.

The primary target groups for the TH-AI Passport include students, startup entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which need reliable and practical AI tools. Mr. Anutin noted that many free AI applications come with limitations or intrusive advertisements, whereas broader access to AI could provide Thais with greater opportunities to generate income, develop businesses and improve their competitiveness.

Asked about former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's concerns that AI could threaten the future of Thailand's labor market, Mr. Anutin said the solution was clear: Thailand must accelerate efforts to upskill and reskill its population.

"If the government does not accelerate upskilling and reskilling, those concerns could become a reality," he said.

Anutin described the TH-AI Passport as the government's concrete response to the challenge, emphasizing the need to maximize access to AI, reduce barriers to its use and strengthen Thailand's competitiveness.

"TH-AI Passport is the government's concrete answer to this problem. We want to maximize access to AI for Thais, reduce limitations, and increase competitiveness, enabling Thais to use the most advanced technology available in the world," Mr. Anutin said.

Regarding the possibility of the opposition raising questions about the project in Parliament, the Prime Minister said the government was prepared to explain every step of the initiative and demonstrate its transparency. He expressed confidence that Chaichanok Chidchob, Minister of Digital Economy and Society of Thailand, would be able to provide detailed explanations of the project's objectives, implementation and terms should the issue be debated or scrutinized in Parliament.

The Better News English