TLDR: Thai financial leaders are actively pursuing responsible AI integration and fostering digital trust to navigate economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions. The “Finance Thailand 2025” event highlighted AI’s role in reshaping the banking sector, with initiatives from the Bank of Thailand and the broader “Ignite Thailand” ambition aiming to establish the country as a regional economic and digital hub. Efforts are also focused on addressing digital access disparities for SMEs and promoting ethical AI development.
Thailand’s financial sector is at a pivotal juncture, with its leaders championing responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) transformation and the cultivation of digital trust to navigate a landscape marked by economic headwinds and geopolitical complexities. This strategic focus was a central theme at “Finance Thailand 2025,” an event that convened senior bankers, policymakers, and technologists to deliberate on the profound impact of AI, digitalization, and regulatory innovation on the nation’s financial and economic future.
The conference, themed “AI unfolds a new era in banking,” underscored AI’s already transformative influence within Thai banking. Foo Boon Ping, President and Managing Editor of TAB Global, emphasized the critical role of leadership, execution, and strategic foresight in successful transformation, stating, “The future will not be defined by circumstance alone. It will be shaped by the choices we make, the partnerships we form and the leadership we show.” He highlighted new initiatives from the Bank of Thailand, including virtual bank licenses, digital fraud frameworks, and cross-border trade and payment platforms, all contributing to the broader “Ignite Thailand” ambition to position the country as a regional economic and digital hub.
Kobsak Duangdee, Secretary General of the Thai Bankers’ Association (TBA), reinforced the message of AI’s transformative power in the banking sector. While Thailand faces economic and political uncertainties, its financial leaders are proactively shaping the trajectory of AI, digital trade, and systemic resilience.
Beyond the financial sector, Thailand is making significant strides in its broader digital transformation. The World Bank’s “Thailand Economic Monitor: Digital Pathways to Growth” report, launched on July 3, 2025, indicates that digital transformation can enhance Thailand’s competitiveness, create jobs, and drive long-term economic growth. The report projects Thailand’s annual GDP growth to be 1.8 percent in 2025 and 1.7 percent in 2026, with potential to rise to 2.2 percent in 2025 and 1.8 percent in 2026 with improved investment sentiment. Kiatipong Ariyapruchya, World Bank Senior Economist for Thailand, noted that strong performance in the first quarter of 2025 provided a temporary lift due to accelerated exports ahead of trade policy uncertainty.
Thailand’s digital economy currently contributes approximately 6 percent to its GDP and is the second largest in the ASEAN region, with financial services, digital payments, fintech, and software and engineering industries experiencing rapid job creation. The country’s near-universal mobile internet coverage and widespread use of digital ID and payment systems like ThaID and PromptPay provide a strong foundation for financial inclusion and the expansion of digital government and e-commerce. The e-commerce industry has seen an annual average growth of 10 percent since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Addressing the digital divide, the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) is focused on democratizing digital access, particularly for under-digitized and underbanked SMEs. DEPA has launched over 100 digital transformation programs, though regional imbalances in uptake remain a challenge.
Thailand’s commitment to AI extends to national strategy. The “Thailand National AI Strategy and Action Plan 2022-2027 (NAIS),” approved in July 2022, aims to establish Thailand as the ASEAN hub for AI by 2027. This comprehensive roadmap covers infrastructure development, research, talent cultivation, and ethical and legal frameworks. In 2025, Thailand accelerated its AI momentum with new initiatives, including a National AI Committee chaired by the Prime Minister, a target to train 10 million AI users, 90,000 professionals, and 50,000 developers, and a significant investment of ฿500 billion (approximately US$14.3 billion) for infrastructure and talent. Partnerships with global tech players are expanding digital infrastructure, including GPU cloud services and AI training platforms.
Human resource development is a key focus, with the launch of the THAI Academy in collaboration with Microsoft, aiming to equip over a million Thais with AI skills through free courses. Thailand is also reinforcing its leadership in AI governance by hosting the UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of AI in June 2025, and the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) is spearheading ethical AI initiatives. The country is exploring AI sandbox zones for innovation in health tech, agri-tech, and fintech, with projects like ThaiLLM and AI-driven tourism and fraud tools.
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Furthermore, the PRCA Thailand Conference 2025, held on August 6, 2025, under the theme “AI: Truth, Trust and Thailand,” will explore how AI is redefining communication, trust, and reputation management. The conference will launch a new PRCA APAC x YouGov study on AI’s influence on trust, media, and behavior in Thailand. Narongyod Mahittivanicha, Founder of TWF Agency and Vice President of the Artificial Intelligence Association of Thailand, will discuss AI’s transformation of PR strategy.
