Dr. Pranpreya Sriwannawit Lundberg, Director of International Policy Partnership Division, took part in an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance Roundtable on 15 August 2023. Organized by the British Embassy Bangkok with the support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the theme of the forum was “From Principles to Best Practice”, emphasizing contemporary and future AI guidelines and regulations in Thailand.  

The AI Governance Roundtable brought together AI experts and representatives from agencies responsible for AI policy making and regulation in both Thailand and the UK to share insights and best practices regarding AI governance to support the use of AI for improving efficiency and social goods. 

During the forum, Dr. Pranpreya underscored the importance and urgency of human resource development to enable the country to navigate the global landscape amid rapid technological progress. Thailand needs to focus its reskilling and upskilling program on improving AI competencies among college students and professionals, as well as enhancing basic digital literacy among vulnerable groups encompassing individuals with limited education, people in the remote areas and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with limited capital, with the ultimate goal to reduce digital divide. 

In addition, Dr. Pranpreya shared information on “AI for Social Good: Strengthening Capabilities and Government Frameworks in Asia and the Pacific”, a collaborative project between NXPO, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), Google.org, the Australian National University (ANU) and alliances in the Asia-Pacific region. The project investigated the impact of AI development and application in the region. Moreover, NXPO also participated in UNESCO’s survey on AI governance and its application in education.  

As AI holds enormous potential to transform the world, the UK’s National AI Strategy is planning to invest GBP 1 billion towards AI development to turn the UK into the global leader in AI.