Thailand Funds 1.4B Baht in AI Projects Amid Waste Fears
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- Government agencies launched 804 AI projects valued at 1.4 billion baht in fiscal 2025 and 685 projects worth 737 million baht in 2026, according to the Digital Government Development Agency.
- Pawoot Pongvitayapanu, a People's Party list MP, warned that AI is being used as a buzzword to justify inflated budgets, echoing the 'app graveyard' era when thousands of underused government apps wasted public funds.
- Sak Sekkhunthod of Etda cautioned that agencies are rebranding basic systems as AI projects to secure funding, similar to past blockchain and e-government trends that delivered little public value.
- Kriengsak Kijkanjanapaiboon of the Association of Thai ICT Industry stressed AI projects must demonstrate specific benefits like 24/7 service or handling high-volume inquiries, not just follow technological hype.
- Chanwit Boonchuay of the AI Entrepreneur Association emphasized the need for external AI experts in drafting requirements and evaluating deliverables, noting AI development requires iterative, flexible procurement.
- Etda is finalizing AI procurement guidelines that prioritize performance-based evaluation over rigid technical specs and include oversight for data privacy, especially regarding generative AI use in public agencies.
Why it matters: Taxpayers risk funding hundreds of low-impact AI projects if oversight fails, as agencies may exploit the technology's buzzword status to secure large budgets without delivering public value, repeating costly digital failures from the past.
