Bangkok: Thailand is pushing for regional cooperation through its first international academic conference, ‘The 3rd UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of AI 2025,’ scheduled for June 24-27 at Centara Grand Hotel, Central World, Bangkok.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Prasert Jantararuangthong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DE), announced Thailand’s commitment to becoming a regional leader in AI ethics. This initiative is supported by the National AI Action Plan (2022-2027), which promotes the ethical use of AI in Thailand under the framework of ‘Ethics, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI).’ Thailand is among the first countries in the region to implement this framework at a strategic level, focusing on creating readiness, promoting AI adoption, and establishing AI governance. The AI ??Governance Center (AIGC), under the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), plays a crucial role in promoting AI ethics and governance in both government and private sectors. This commitment aligns with UNESCO’s guidelines and international standards, earning Thailand the honor of hosting the international academic conference.
Under the leadership of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), the Ministry of Education (MOE), and UNESCO, the conference will gather leaders, academics, and AI experts from 194 UNESCO member countries. Participants will exchange knowledge and cooperate on policies, focusing on developing AI that is ethical, transparent, fair, and respectful of human rights, in accordance with the ‘UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI’. The opening ceremony will feature Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on June 25, 2025, at the Convention Center Room B1, 22nd floor, Centara Grand Hotel, Central World, Bangkok.
The conference offers Thailand an opportunity to showcase its vision and assert its role in AI ethics and governance at regional and global levels. Thailand aims to drive policy cooperation from the international stage to operational levels, strengthening its image as a technology and innovation hub. The forum will highlight three key issues: the AI Governance Practice Center (AIGPC) as a starting point for regional policy collaboration, a Monitoring Dashboard of Thailand as a prototype model tool for sustainable governance, and AI Readiness Assessment Results under the UNESCO RAM Framework.
In addition to the main conference, several parallel side events will be open for registration. These include the AI ??Sandboxes activity from the AI ??Governance Center by ETDA, an AI and Children seminar in collaboration with UNICEF and the Thailand Safe Internet Coalition (TSIC), and a seminar on enabling an AI-ready workforce.
The Thai government also supports ‘Bangkok AI Week 2025,’ themed ‘AI powered nation: Unleashing the digital economy for all,’ featuring activities and exhibitions across Bangkok. More information on these events and the international conference can be found at https://www.globalforumethicsai.com/ or the ETDA Thailand Facebook page.