Thailand 5.0? Reimagining the Nation’s Digital Future With Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Abstract

Thailand stands at a critical juncture in Southeast Asia’s digital transformation, transitioning from a mobile-first society into an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled economy. Although widespread connectivity and super app ecosystems demonstrate rapid technological adoption, research—especially in communication studies—tends to examine AI development through separate lenses of policy, innovation, and inclusion. This study addresses this gap by analyzing how alignment or misalignment among these dimensions shapes whether AI-driven transformation yields equitable outcomes or reinforces inequalities. Findings indicate that despite comprehensive national AI strategies and strong commercial adoption, gaps persist between policy ambition and implementation capacity. Dependence on foreign technological infrastructures limits sovereign AI capabilities, while digital divides produce uneven access and benefits. Authority-driven diffusion accelerates scale, but often results in compliance without meaningful capability development. The study argues that without targeted interventions in capability building, sovereign infrastructure, and culturally grounded governance, Thailand’s AI transformation risks reinforcing existing inequalities rather than promoting inclusive digital development.