Thailand is accelerating efforts to position itself as Southeast Asia's center for responsible artificial intelligence, with officials aiming to complete the country's first AI law within the current fiscal year while carefully balancing innovation with regulation.
Speaking at AI Governance Week 2026, held from June 29 to July 3 by the Electronic Transactions Development Agency, or ETDA, and its AI Governance Practice Center, or AIGPC, Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaichanok Chidchob said the country is entering a new phase in its AI strategy — one focused less on policymaking and more on practical implementation.
He said AI is reshaping education, business, public services and the way societies compete. "To support that transition, Thailand has established the AI Governance Practice Center with international partners, aiming to build the country into a trusted regional hub for AI ethics and governance," he said.
The government's proposed AI Act reflects an approach that differs from jurisdictions pursuing either sweeping restrictions or minimal oversight. Chaichana Mitrpant, ETDA's executive director, said that Thailand is seeking a hybrid framework that encourages innovation while introducing safeguards for higher-risk applications.
