On 26 July 2025, Professor Dr. Sukit Limpijumnong, President of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), represented Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance 2025 held in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China.
The conference was officially inaugurated by Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who underscored the global imperative for safe, ethical, and responsible development of artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure societal well-being.
During the High-Level Meeting, Professor Dr. Sukit delivered a keynote address highlighting Thailand’s progress under the National AI Strategy and Action Plan (2022–2027). The strategy is jointly led by MHESI and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES), guided by the National AI Committee chaired by the Prime Minister. He emphasized the strategy’s five core pillars: governance and ethics, digital and computing infrastructure, workforce development, research and innovation, and AI adoption across priority sectors such as public services, healthcare, education, manufacturing, and agriculture.
At the mid-point of the implementation period, Professor Dr. Sukit reported significant achievements. More than 113,000 learners have been upskilled through various programs, while 1,214 students are currently pursuing AI-focused degrees at the AI Engineering Institute, a collaboration among six universities. Additionally, 1,563 students are enrolled in 21 AI-related programs nationwide. The Super AI Engineer initiative alone attracted over 10,000 applicants in the past year, reinforcing Thailand’s growing AI talent pipeline.
On AI governance, Thailand has enacted the Personal Data Protection Act, adopted two national AI Ethics Guidelines, and is progressing with a draft Royal Decree on AI Service Providers. The newly established AI Governance Center (AIGC) now provides readiness assessments, risk management tools, and sandbox testing for large language models. Internationally, Thailand has completed the UNESCO AI Readiness Assessment, co-hosted the 3rd UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of AI, and continues to play an active role in the Hiroshima AI Process, the OECD AI Governance initiatives, and ASEAN AI governance frameworks.
Looking ahead, Thailand aspires to become a regional leader in AI within ASEAN, with ambitious targets of reaching 10 million AI users, cultivating 90,000 AI professionals, and supporting 50,000 AI developers. This vision is supported by strategic investments in digital infrastructure, the development of open-source AI platforms, and incentives to stimulate private sector engagement. Key initiatives include the National Data Bank, the Open-Source AI Community, and the AI Standards and Benchmark Hub.
WAIC 2025, organized under the theme “Global Solidarity in the AI Era,” served as a premier international platform for showcasing cutting-edge AI technologies, fostering industry collaboration, and advancing global AI governance dialogue. The event attracted senior representatives from more than 50 countries and international organizations, as well as global technology leaders from companies such as Siemens, Alibaba, Tencent, MiniMax, and iFlytek.
A major highlight was the keynote lecture delivered by Professor Dr. Geoffrey Hinton, widely recognized as the “Godfather of AI,” Nobel Laureate in Physics (2024), and recipient of the Turing Award (2018). His address, entitled “Will Digital Intelligence Replace Biological Intelligence?”, examined the profound implications of AI on human cognition.
The conference also marked the launch of several significant Chinese AI initiatives, including the Center for Global AI Innovative Governance, the AI from China – Benefit the World (2025) Case Collection, the International Open-Source AI Cooperation Initiative, the MAZU early warning system, the MAZU-Urban AI multi-hazard alert platform, and the Global AI Governance Action Plan.
The expansive exhibition area, covering over 70,000 square meters, featured more than 100 AI technologies, including over 40 large language models (LLMs), 60 intelligent robots, and a diverse array of AI applications across industries such as healthcare, finance, and manufacturing. In addition to the plenary sessions, WAIC 2025 hosted a wide range of thematic forums addressing topics such as the role of large models in shaping the future, AI safety and governance, embodied intelligence, AI for small and medium-sized enterprises, global healthcare cooperation, and enterprise AI applications for industry and manufacturing.
The event further showcased the potential of AI in creative industries, featuring applications in tourism, music therapy, and immersive audio technologies, demonstrating the transformative impact of AI across multiple sectors.