Thailand Must Not Fall Behind In Global AI Race

Former Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan says the global competition in artificial intelligence is intensifying, with countries rapidly developing data centers, chips, cloud systems, and energy infrastructure to handle massive data processing. Thailand must accelerate its preparations to avoid falling behind in the technology race and transform digital investments into a new economic foundation.

Pickai stressed that data centers are not just information storage facilities but critical infrastructure for an AI economy. If Thailand genuinely wants to develop AI, it needs sufficient data centers, cloud systems, GPU resources, and digital infrastructure to support research, model training, and industrial-scale applications.

Thailand should welcome data center investment but design it to benefit the country through development of AI, cloud computing, GPU technology, and robotics, while building domestic supply chains in electrical systems, cooling systems, networking equipment, electronics, and related software and technologies to create continuous industry and add value.

The expansion of AI and data centers will dramatically increase electricity demand, requiring Thailand to prepare adequate, stable, and competitive-cost power generation and transmission networks capable of supporting data centers across regions, while accelerating clean energy adoption to align with tech company trends and environmental goals.

Beyond electricity, water is critical infrastructure for data centers, as some cooling systems require large water volumes. Thailand should plan water management alongside data center development, improving water storage capacity, developing new sources, and implementing water recycling while managing costs fairly.

Although data centers directly employ relatively few workers, they generate employment and business across many sectors including AI, GPU, cloud computing, robotics, engineering, software, equipment manufacturing, electrical systems, cooling systems, water management, and technology services—mostly skilled positions.

Data center evaluation should not focus only on direct employment numbers but must consider jobs and business throughout the economic chain, including investments in electricity, water, and infrastructure that strengthen national capacity.

Thailand should also give students, researchers, engineers, and young people access to GPU, cloud, and AI tools through universities, research centers, and private sector partnerships to develop software, conduct research, and create new businesses.

Pickai said Thailand should use data center investment as a starting point for building domestic supply chains, linking to electronics, chip, circuit board, electrical systems, cooling systems, networking equipment, software, water management, and related energy and technology industries.