Although many organizations are now adopting AI, the key challenge lies in the organizational readiness to effectively implement AI and generate tangible results—covering people, skills, data, workflows, governance, and corporate culture—which will enhance Thailand's competitiveness.
But do many organizations know how ready they and their personnel are for AI?
Recently, AIS Academy, in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) via the National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO) and RIS Consulting, developed the “Thailand AI Readiness Index” or “TARI (ทาริ)”, the first national index for assessing AI readiness in Thai organizations. This allows businesses to evaluate their potential, identify gaps for development, and plan AI initiatives precisely.
They also invite businesses from all industries to collaborate on designing and refining the assessment framework, as well as creating a central national benchmarking database to elevate the readiness of Thai organizations and drive the AI economy concretely.
“Kantima Leelertudom,” Chief Corporate Business Officer at AIS, stated that Thailand is at a pivotal point in transitioning to an AI-driven economy, which not only changes work methods but also reshapes the country's competitiveness. The key question is not whether AI will replace humans, but how we can prepare people, organizations, and the nation to use AI for productivity and economic growth.
“Thailand is in the phase of connecting people with AI. Yet many organizations pour huge sums into purchasing trendy technologies without assessing whether their people have the capability to use them successfully. This risks wasting investment. The challenge for many organizations today is not a lack of technology, but not knowing how ready they are, where to start, and how to use AI to achieve business outcomes. This is the critical question we must urgently answer together.”
Under the vision “Mission: Think Ahead,” AIS is ready to move forward with the “Academy for Thais” project to enhance digital knowledge, emphasizing that “people are the most important asset” and that AI should be used to augment human capabilities to work smarter.
From a policymaker’s perspective, “Yoschanan Wongsawat, ” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, noted that the AI readiness index is an essential measure for benchmarking Thailand against ASEAN and international standards, serving as a compass for systematic self-transformation. This measurement system was developed through collaboration among all network partners—government, private sector, and educational institutions—to create an index trusted by all sectors.
“The Ministry of MHESI has a vision of ‘AI for All,’ aiming to build a comprehensive AI science and technology infrastructure, from foundational infrastructure and human resources to practical applications across all ministries. For its part, MHESI will focus on upstream research and development (R&D) to address three major global challenges: technology wars, climate change, and the aging society. AI and data technologies will play a key role in transforming every industry.”
Yoschanan Wongsawat added that Thailand cannot forever remain a mere recipient of knowledge or rely on foreign technology. The country must be ready to stand on its own. Currently, Thailand lacks ownership of AI technology, including data centers. This infrastructure shortage will hinder the country's AI development. Creating AI innovations, such as chips, semiconductors, and energy, is crucial. Everyone must dare to think and develop new innovations.
Meanwhile, “Brawit Pinpradab, ” Chairman of IRIS Consulting, said that many organizations are eager to drive AI but are unsure where to invest first—whether to develop people, data, or adjust workflows as a priority.
Some organizations already have AI projects, but they are not yet clearly linked to organizational-level outcomes. The development of TARI aims to jointly answer how Thai organizations should assess AI readiness in a realistic way, use the results effectively, and create a common language for AI readiness in Thailand in the future.
Under this collaboration, TARI will serve as a mechanism to unite government, private sector, and industry to create a systematic AI readiness assessment standard. It will cover evaluations at the organizational, functional, and individual levels, reflecting readiness from executive vision, strategy, and policy to data management, workflows, AI use cases, knowledge, understanding, and employee capability to apply AI in practice.
TARI will assess organizational readiness across eight dimensions: 1. AI Strategy and Leadership, 2. Data Management, 3. Technology and Infrastructure, 4. AI Talent and Skills, 5. Governance and Risk, 6. AI Use Cases and Business Value Creation, 7. Organizational Culture and Change Management, and 8. AI Implementation and Outcomes.
These will be driven through three key steps:
- Measure – Help organizations understand their AI readiness comprehensively, identifying strengths, gaps, and areas needing urgent development.
- Benchmark – Allow organizations to compare their potential with industry peers and national averages, prioritizing development and investment for maximum impact.
- Activate – Transform assessment results into actionable plans, covering personnel development, process improvement, technology selection, and building an AI ecosystem suited to each organization's context.
Currently, over 40 leading organizations from various industries are considering participation, with plans to expand to SMEs and other sectors. The goal is to have at least 5,000 organizations participate in the first year, increasing to over 20,000 in subsequent phases.
This will enable Thai businesses at all levels to truly use AI to create value and grow sustainably in the AI-driven economy.
Jirawat Jarupan
