Bangkok: The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce reveals that Thailand’s digital economy is growing at an average rate of 7-10% per year, but AI is not being fully utilized to generate income. According to Thai News Agency, the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) disclosed its Digital Transformation Index, highlighting that while Thailand’s infrastructure is strong, the nation’s digital skills and AI usage do not meet international benchmarks. Despite the digital economy’s steady annual expansion, the potential of AI to boost income remains underutilized.
Dr. Anusorn Thammajai, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Director of the Digital Economy, Investment and International Trade Research Center at UTCC, emphasized the importance of digital transformation for national competitiveness. He noted that organizations like DEPA, NESDC, and the Bank of Thailand recognize the dependency of labor productivity and future income growth on digital skills, AI readiness, and access to digital government services.
Thailand currently lacks an index similar to international measures like the EU’s DESI, the UN’s EGDI, or Oxford Insights’ AI Readiness Index. In response, the Digital Economy Research Center created the Thailand Digital Transformation Index (TDTI) to assess citizens’ digital capabilities across six dimensions, including technology access, skills, digital self-development, and AI productivity.
Dr. Patarapong Malavalya, a researcher at the Digital Economy Research Center, shared findings from interviews with Thai citizens aged 15 and above. The data showed that digital device access and internet quality are relatively high, with a score of 77.88. Most Thais own a smartphone and often have additional devices, indicating readiness for digital and AI learning. Hardware access is not a significant barrier.
Dr. Anusorn pointed out that while Thailand has entered the digital era, it has not fully capitalized on digital technology benefits. The country’s strong interest in AI learning contrasts with its limited success in using AI to boost income and productivity. Future policies should target AI for productivity, SMEs, upskilling, workflow automation, and business value creation. Compared to OECD and McKinsey standards, Thailand’s AI productivity lags due to insufficient AI skills, business revenue integration, and supportive national policies like tax incentives and AI sandboxes. The country’s productivity score remains lower than that of Europe and East Asia.