Thailand's Big Data Institute Partners With Matichon to Develop Thai AI Language Model
Thailand's Big Data Institute and Matichon have partnered to develop ThaiLLM, a Thai-language AI model using high-quality news databases to strengthen the country's AI infrastructure and sovereignty. The collaboration, formalized in Septemb
The Big Data Institute (BDI) has joined forces with Matichon to tap high-quality news databases in developing ThaiLLM, a Thai-language large language model designed to strengthen Thailand's AI infrastructure. The partnership seeks to establish a central data repository and national data bank for artificial intelligence, drawing on Matichon's extensive Thai-language content to create AI systems that understand Thai language, culture, and social context while advancing Thailand's AI sovereignty.
On September 21, BDI Director Prof. Theeranai Ajlakul and Matichon Managing Director Praapat Bunpan signed a cooperation memorandum at Matichon headquarters, with executives from both organizations as witnesses. The collaboration supports development of ThaiLLM and the National Data Bank for AI by supplying premium Thai-language data and news content to power AI systems that comprehend Thai language nuances, cultural references, and social dynamics.
Prof. Theeranai explained that ThaiLLM is a collaborative effort involving BDI, the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC), Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC), the Thai AI Entrepreneurs Association (AIEAT), the Thai AI Association (AIAT), and faculty from Chulalongkorn and Mahidol universities, with initial funding from the Digital Economy Fund (DEF). The initiative is not intended to compete with global language models but rather to create high-quality Thai-language resources and develop models that understand Thai language, culture, and social context, while building tools and platforms that enable developers, government agencies, private companies, and citizens to access and expand upon these foundational resources for Thai-developed AI applications.
"The cornerstone of developing AI suited to Thailand is having high-quality Thai-language data that truly reflects Thai society's context," Prof. Theeranai stated. "Our partnership with Matichon represents a crucial step in bringing quality Thai news and content to support ThaiLLM's deeper understanding of Thai language, events, and social context. BDI leads development of ThaiLLM and the National Data Bank for AI, while Matichon supplies the data."
