Bangkok: In an era where technology is evolving faster than imagined, Dr. Prinya Hom-anek cited a significant event in South Korea as a cautionary tale for modern workers. A campaign using AI-assisted advertising caused immense damage simply because of a lack of human review. She also revealed Thailand's cybersecurity strategy as it transitions to the quantum era.
According to Thai News Agency, AI is fast but "sloppy": A costly lesson from the "Tank Day" campaign. The drama at Starbucks South Korea is a clear example of using AI without human-in-the-loop review. The AI launched a campaign called "Tank Day," featuring a tank-shaped cup design, coinciding with the anniversary of the Gwangju tragedy. The result was intense criticism and the dismissal of senior executives.
Dr. Prinya pointed out that AI speeds up the process but also makes it "rougher" and "sloppy." If humans let AI make all the decisions without considering cultural or historical sensitivities, the results could be the opposite of what is expected. "Ultimately, whether the design is done by humans or AI, humans must always be responsible and finalize it."
Enhancing Thailand's Cybersecurity: Single-Step Passwords Are No Longer Enough. For the direction of cybersecurity in Thailand, the National Cyber Security Council (NCSC) has approved three key plans. One of these is to push government agencies and critical infrastructure (CII) to move beyond the traditional use of usernames and passwords. This is because malware can easily intercept data, making traditional passwords extremely dangerous. The shift will be to Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) or 2FA, requiring a second layer of verification such as an OTP or Google Authenticator application, as the default standard.
Quantum Ready 2030: A Storm is Brewing. A bigger challenge than AI is quantum technology. Dr. Prinya revealed that Google plans to use quantum computers capable of decrypting Bitcoin or current security codes in just 9 minutes, expected to happen in 2029.
The cyberspace is already being impacted, for example, SSL certificates on websites will have a shorter lifespan of only 47 days by 2029 because quantum mechanics are accelerating the expiration of traditional security measures. Thailand must therefore prepare for Quantum Ready 2030 starting this year. If we don't begin upgrading our security today, future generations will face difficulties, and Thailand will lag behind in joining the OECD.
In summary, Thailand's survival strategy in the cyber age is being accelerated by the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) through three main plans: 1. Quantum Security, 2. AI Security (AI Governance), and 3. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). These plans aim to enhance the country's capabilities for security and stability. Dr. Prinya emphasized that quantum mechanics is not a pipe dream but a looming storm. If Thais do not quickly upgrade their use of AI to ensure security and prepare for quantum technology, we will become victims who fall behind.