The National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (Nectec) has called on the National AI Committee to make job displacement caused by artificial intelligence a key priority on its agenda.
The agency is also preparing to work with the Digital Government Agency to create AI-powered tools that can support state officials in preparing and reviewing terms of reference for government AI projects.
Chai Wutiwiwatchai, executive director of Nectec and assistant secretary of the AI committee, said Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul appointed the new National AI Committee last year to supervise the country’s National AI Strategy and Action Plan.
Unlike earlier versions of the committee, the latest panel is expected to be established as a permanent body.
“We hope to hold the first committee meeting this month because AI integration is an urgent national issue, and it will guide major upcoming AI projects,” Mr Chai said.
Among the strategies expected to be discussed is the creation of specialised Centers of Excellence, which would serve as lead organisations for different areas of AI development.
Under the proposed structure, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation is expected to oversee the AI for Education Center of Excellence, while a network of universities and hospitals would take charge of the healthcare-focused hub.
Job Displacement Concerns
Mr Chai said one of the most pressing issues facing Thailand is the potential displacement of workers as AI becomes more widely adopted, warning that the impact on the economy could be significant.
The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council recently estimated that almost 9 million workers could be affected by generative AI, with around 2.2 million facing the risk of being replaced by the technology.
The think tank also reported that Thailand’s unemployment rate stood at 0.94% of the labour force in the first quarter of 2026, representing about 390,000 people and marking a 9.9% increase from a year earlier.
According to Reuters, OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman previously said the rapid development and adoption of AI would not trigger a global “jobs apocalypse”, adding that the technology had not replaced as many white-collar jobs as he had once feared.
Mr Chai said Thailand should introduce new rules requiring companies to train employees to work alongside AI, instead of allowing businesses to simply replace workers with the technology.
“I think implementing an automation tax as a financial penalty for employers who lay off their workforce in favour of AI would help slow the replacement of human workers,” he said.
He added that Nectec is working with the Digital Government Agency to develop AI tools designed to help state officials draft and audit terms of reference for government AI projects, particularly in relation to procurement procedures.
Mr Chai said the system is intended to strengthen the quality and efficiency of public procurement.
Quality Assurance
Nectec is also seeking funding from the National AI Committee to establish a National Quality Infrastructure, or NQI, which would be used to test and standardise AI models.
The proposed NQI would review AI systems across three main areas: bias in training data and the improper use of copyrighted material, compliance with data privacy requirements, and cybersecurity risks.
Mr Chai said such auditing would help ensure the safety of AI systems while strengthening confidence among both domestic and international users.
Nectec already operates an AI testing laboratory that evaluates AI of Things devices, as well as medical devices that rely on AI technology.
The first phase of the National AI Strategy and Action Plan covers the period from 2022 to 2027 and originally aimed to train 30,000 advanced AI personnel, including 20,000 innovators, 9,000 engineers and 1,000 top-level graduates.
Mr Chai said the programme has already exceeded that target, producing 50,000 people with AI-related skills.
The Big Data Institute is now leading efforts to draft the second phase of the action plan.
