Thailand’s First AI Readiness Index: MHESI, through NXPO, Joins Forces with AIS Academy and IRIS to Launch “TARI”

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2 July 2026, 17:50

Thailand is entering a critical phase of transformation across its economy, technology landscape, and workforce. As AI becomes a key driver of national and business competitiveness, Thai organizations are increasingly exploring how to apply AI within their operations. The focus, however, is no longer simply on access to technology, but on organizational readiness to translate AI adoption into meaningful impact across people, skills, data, processes, governance, and organizational culture. To address this need, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), through the Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO), in collaboration with AIS Academy and IRIS Consulting, has developed the “Thailand AI Readiness Index” or “TARI,” Thailand’s first AI readiness assessment index for organizations. TARI aims to provide Thai businesses with a practical framework to assess their current capabilities, identify priority areas for improvement, and plan their AI transformation more effectively. The initiative also opens the door for organizations across industries to take part in shaping the assessment framework and contributing to a national benchmarking database, strengthening the readiness of Thai enterprises and supporting the country’s transition toward an AI-driven economy.

Professor Dr. Yodchanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), said, “AI is not merely a new technology. It is becoming a key factor in shaping the direction of national development across the economy, industry, innovation, and workforce. The ability of Thai organizations to adopt AI effectively will serve as an important mechanism to strengthen the country’s long-term competitiveness. The TARI initiative therefore plays an important role in building a systematic understanding of the current level of AI readiness among Thai organizations. These insights will provide a critical foundation for the government to design targeted policies and support programs that help Thai organizations strengthen their AI readiness and adoption, while enabling the business sector to plan a stable and sustainable transition toward the AI economy.”

Ms. Kantima Lerlertyuttitham, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Corporate Officer at AIS, said, “Thailand is reaching a critical milestone in its transition toward an AI economy, a shift that is not only changing the way we work, but also redefining the country’s competitiveness. The key question is therefore not whether AI will replace people, but how we can prepare people, organizations, and the nation to use AI to enhance productivity and drive economic growth. However, the challenge many organizations face today is not a lack of technology, but uncertainty over how ready they are, where they should begin, and how AI can be applied to create real business impact. This is a critical question that we must work together to address with urgency.”

“Drawing on AIS’s experience in driving AI transformation within the organization, from building AI literacy and preparing teams to use AI to improve work efficiency, to upskilling employees at all levels and extending AI capabilities into products and services for enterprise customers, we believe that the transition into the AI era must begin with a clear understanding of an organization’s readiness across people, skills, data, work processes, and organizational culture, rather than technology investment alone.”

“Guided by AIS’s core vision of ‘Think Ahead for Thais,’ we look beyond the development of technology and capabilities within our own organization. We also think ahead for the readiness of Thai organizations, Thai people, and the country as a whole. This vision has led to our collaboration with leading partners to develop TARI as a common tool that helps Thai organizations assess their readiness, identify gaps, and define a more effective direction for AI adoption. We believe TARI will become an important mechanism to help Thai organizations and the country move confidently toward the AI economy, at a time when competitiveness is no longer defined by who has more AI, but by who is better prepared to use AI effectively,” Ms. Kantima added.

Dr. Surachai Sathitkunarat, President of the Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO), said, “One of the key challenges in developing AI policy is the availability of sufficient, reliable data that accurately reflects the current state of Thai organizations. At present, data on AI adoption readiness remains fragmented, making it difficult to gain a systematic overview of readiness across industries. TARI will therefore play an important role in establishing a common assessment framework that enables all sectors to gain a clearer understanding of their level of readiness. NXPO will use the aggregated insights from TARI to analyze and design support measures that align with the specific context of each industry, while ensuring careful data governance to build trust among participating organizations and enable the appropriate use of data for policy development.”

Mr. Boriwat Pinpradab, Chairman at IRIS Consulting, says that “From IRIS’s experience working with organizations across a wide range of industries, we have found that many organizations are committed to advancing AI, but remain uncertain about where to invest first. Should they start by developing people, strengthening data capabilities, or redesigning certain work processes as the first priority? At the same time, some organizations may already have AI projects in place but have yet to clearly connect them to organization-wide impact.

This is why a standardized readiness assessment tool is essential. Before developing a roadmap, organizations must first understand their starting points. The development of TARI is the result of collaboration among the public sector, policymakers, and leading businesses in Thailand to answer a key question: how should Thai organizations assess their AI readiness in a way that reflects reality and enables the results to be applied in practice? For IRIS, we are proud to be part of designing TARI as more than an assessment index, but as a strategic framework that helps Thai organizations see their development direction more clearly and establishes a common language for AI readiness in Thailand going forward.”

Under this collaboration, TARI will act as a mechanism to bring together the public sector, private sector, and industry to establish a systematic standard for AI readiness assessment. The framework is designed to cover assessments at the organizational, functional, and individual levels, reflecting readiness from leadership vision, strategy, and policy to data capabilities, work processes, AI use cases, as well as employees’ knowledge, understanding, and 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) people and AI skills, 5) governance and risk, 6) AI use cases and business value creation, 7) organizational culture and change management, and 8) AI implementation and realized impact. The initiative will be driven through three key stages:

Measure – Helping organizations gain a comprehensive understanding of their AI readiness, enabling them to identify strengths, gaps, and priority areas for development.
Benchmark – Enabling organizations to compare their capabilities against industry peers and national benchmarks, helping them prioritize development and investment for maximum impact.
Activate -Turning assessment results into practical action plans, including workforce development, process improvement, technology adoption, and the creation of an AI ecosystem tailored to each organization’s context.

More than 40 leading organizations across various industries have expressed interest in joining the pioneer group to help develop Thailand’s AI readiness index. The initiative will later expand to SMEs, supply chain businesses, and organizations across different sectors, with a target of at least 5,000 organizations participating in the assessment in the first year and more than 20,000 organizations in the next phase. This will enable Thai businesses at all levels to apply AI to create real value and achieve sustainable growth in the AI economy.

Organizations interested in contributing to the development of the Thailand AI Readiness Index (TARI) can learn more and register their interest at https://thailand-tari.ai, or stay updated through the official communication channels of NXPO, AIS Academy, and IRIS Consulting.

One Heart, One Glory: Bringing Champions Closer to the Loyal Fans

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MC Marketing

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2 July 2026, 17:46

By Eric Park

Thai football fans understand the feeling well. They watch their heroes lift a trophy on screen, then return to everyday life the moment the broadcast ends. The game always seems just out of reach.

“One Heart One Glory” changes that.

Hosted by AIS and GULF at AIS SIAM, the event honors the people who give Thai football life. This includes the players who fight for every point during a tough season and the supporters who never stop believing in their clubs.

Up Close with the Silverware

For most Thai football fans, trophies exist behind a screen. Fans glimpse them in a post-match celebration broadcast, then they disappear.

For the first time, all five major championship titles were together in one space: the BYD Sealions6 League 1, BYD Seal5 League 2, BYD Dolphins League 3, Chang FA Cup, and Muang Thai Cup. There was no glass barrier and no TV frame. Fans stood close enough to see their own reflection in the silverware their clubs fought all season to lift.

Some supporters had followed their teams for years without ever being this close to a trophy. That changed this afternoon.

“Seeing the trophies up close and getting to share a moment with the players I’ve cheered for all season was just surreal,” says one of the attendees.

Real Connections with Champions

The trophies attracted the crowd, but the players kept them there.

Fans met the players who won those titles face-to-face. They heard behind-the-scenes stories not found in the highlight reels. They learned about the injuries players pushed through, the talks in the dressing room before key matches, and the small moments that turned a good season into a championship run. Representatives and players from Rasisalai United, Nara United, and Port FC moved through the crowd, answering questions, posing for photos, and sharing honest, unscripted conversations. These interactions reminded everyone why they fell in love with the game in the first place.

“Thai football is growing because of the fans. When you meet them like this, it stays with you. It makes every match feel bigger,” says Port FC player Tanaboon Kesarat.

More Than a Broadcast

Events like this show a long-term commitment.

AIS has consistently invested in Thai football to make the game more accessible. No matter where fans are, they can follow their clubs during every match, every result, and every key moment. With AIS PLAY, supporters can watch live matches on demand and stay connected to their teams throughout the season. They get to experience the game on their own terms.

Rasisalai Fans said “With AIS PLAY, supporters can watch every Thai League 1, 2, and 3 match live and on demand, keeping them connected to their teams throughout the season.”

“One Heart One Glory” took that commitment beyond the platform. It set fans right in the middle of the action.

As Thai football continues to grow, AIS and GULF focus on strengthening the relationship between clubs, players, and the communities that support them. They will bring the sport to more fans and make sure it means something to them.

One Heart, One Game

The trophies will return to the clubs. The photos will remain on phones. But what stayed with fans after “One Heart One Glory” was the energy that fans felt when they finally got to shake the hand of the player they’d been cheering for all season.

That connection is what the day was truly about. And it’s what AIS and GULF continue to build, one season at a time.

Vietnam, Philippines upgraded to upper-middle-income status by World Bank

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Khaosod English

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2 July 2026, 17:33

The World Bank has upgraded Vietnam and the Philippines to upper-middle-income status following years of strong economic growth, a move that could boost investor confidence in both countries.

Vietnam had been classified as a lower-middle-income economy since 2009, while the Philippines had remained in that category since the late 1980s.

The World Bank attributed Vietnam’s upgrade to its export-led growth model and the Philippines’ broad-based expansion across multiple sectors.

Both countries surpassed the World Bank’s upper-middle-income threshold of $4,636 in gross national income per capita in 2025, with Vietnam reaching $4,970 and the Philippines $4,850.

Philippine officials said the new classification reflects the country’s sustained economic resilience, while Vietnam is targeting double-digit economic growth in 2026 through business-friendly reforms and infrastructure investment.

Jordan, Micronesia and Sri Lanka were also upgraded to upper-middle-income status, while Togo moved from low-income to lower-middle-income. The World Bank said the share of low-income economies has fallen significantly since 1987.

The new status could reduce access to concessional development financing, although Philippine officials said stronger economic fundamentals and improved market access are expected to outweigh the impact.

Silk shirts used to hide heroin in overseas parcel plot

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Khaosod English

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2 July 2026, 16:29

Silk shirts used to hide heroin in overseas parcel plot

The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has seized another 24.38 kilograms of heroin hidden inside silk clothing, coffee sachets and winter jackets packed in international parcels bound for Australia and Taiwan, while expanding its investigation into a network linked to the Golden Triangle drug syndicate.

ONCB Secretary-General Pol. Lt. Col. Suriya Singhakamol said on 2 July 2026 that the ONCB, together with partner agencies, had intensified efforts to intercept narcotics destined for third countries.

Authorities confiscated 24.38kg of heroin concealed inside local handicrafts, silk garments, coffee sachets and winter jackets packed in five international parcels prepared for shipment to Australia and Taiwan.

The operation followed the seizure of two parcels in Bangkok on 30 June 2026, when officers found 8.17kg of heroin hidden inside local products destined for Australia.

Investigators traced the parcels to Loei province. On 1 July 2026, ONCB officers inspected a parcel delivery shop in Loei and discovered that three more parcels with similar characteristics had already been dispatched to two locations in Bangkok, prompting immediate raids.

At the first location in Bang Kapi district, officers seized two parcels containing 6.23kg of heroin concealed inside silk clothing. The shipment was bound for Taiwan.

At the second location on Rang Nam Road in Ratchathewi district, officers found 9.98kg of heroin hidden inside coffee sachets and winter jackets. The parcel was destined for Australia.

Further investigation found that the person directing the shipments to Australia is a Thai national wanted under an arrest warrant in Tak province on fraud charges, who allegedly issued instructions while residing in Australia.

On 2 July 2026, officers searched three locations in Loei and Nakhon Phanom provinces linked to the parcel shipments and bank accounts used to receive transport payments.

Those involved in sending the parcels told investigators that they had delivered the shipments twice together with the man’s Lao wife. They said they collected the parcels from a Lao man, while payment for the deliveries was transferred into the wife’s bank account.

Pol. Lt. Col. Suriya said Thailand’s proximity to the Golden Triangle, a major production area for methamphetamine, crystal meth, heroin and ketamine, as well as its role as a regional transport hub with extensive land, air, sea and international parcel networks, makes close cooperation between domestic and international agencies essential in disrupting drug trafficking at every level.

He said authorities will continue expanding the investigation to identify other members of the trafficking network and prosecute everyone involved under the law.

Members of the public with information on drug-related activities are encouraged to contact the ONCB hotline 1386, available 24 hours a day. Officials said all information provided by informants will be kept strictly confidential.

Foreign man confronts Thai woman over swastika tattoo

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Khaosod English

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2 July 2026, 14:56

A video circulating on Thai social media shows a heated argument between a foreign man and a Thai woman at a fast-food restaurant, after the man questioned a tattoo on her ankle that appeared to depict a swastika symbol.

In the clip, the man wearing a red tank top is seen telling restaurant staff that the woman had a swastika tattoo. The woman is heard arguing back, saying she had the tattoo done when she was younger and did not understand its meaning at the time. Both parties exchange heated and profane remarks throughout the video.

The woman also insists she has not harmed anyone.

The incident has sparked online discussion, with some users pointing out that there have been previous cases in Thailand where individuals have displayed swastika or Nazi-related symbols without fully understanding their historical context or significance.

Thailand does not have specific laws prohibiting the display of such symbols.

Drunk man rescued after falling asleep in water tank

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Khaosod English

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2 July 2026, 14:26

Drunk man rescued after falling asleep in water tank

KHON KAEN — 2 July 2026, A heavily intoxicated man was rescued after climbing into a 500-litre water tank and falling asleep inside, police said.

Police were alerted at 11:30 after residents reported finding a man inside a water tank in an alley off Phimphasut Road in Khon Kaen municipality.

When officers and rescue workers arrived, they found the unidentified man standing upright inside the tank with only his head above the rim. He was unresponsive despite repeated attempts to wake him.

Rescuers drained the water from the tank before carefully tipping it onto its side to pull the man out safely.

After regaining consciousness, the man walked to the roadside and rode away on his motorcycle. There is no report explaining why no officers stopped him from doing so, despite the fact that he was clearly intoxicated.

A local resident, Montakarn Buathong, 44, said workers behind her home discovered the man inside the tank and initially feared he had died because he was motionless.

She said the man later told rescuers he had been drinking heavily before parking his motorcycle near the alley. He then climbed over a fence, opened the tank’s lid and got inside to sleep.

Residents said he was fortunate to survive, noting that if he had lost his balance and fallen into the water inside the tank, he could have drowned.

Cambodian beggars detained in Pattaya crackdown after viral child-begging video

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Khaosod English

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2 July 2026, 13:47

PATTAYA — Thai authorities have detained three Cambodian nationals during a crackdown on foreign beggars in Pattaya following public outrage over a viral video showing a disabled man begging while carrying his young child.

The operation was carried out at about 21:20 on Tuesday by officials from the Chon Buri Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office, the Chon Buri Children and Family Shelter, Pattaya police and the Chon Buri Immigration Office.

Officers located the disabled man, identified only as Tok, 35, in Pattaya’s Soi 6 area. Police said he appeared to notice the authorities and attempted to wheel himself away before being detained. The child seen in the viral video was not with him.

During questioning, Tok admitted he had previously taken his child with him while begging because his wife was sometimes unavailable to care for the child. He said he stopped doing so after images of him circulated on social media and drew widespread criticism.

Tok told authorities he had lived in Thailand for more than 10 years and earned about 200-300 baht a day from begging. He said he remained in Thailand because he could earn more money than in Cambodia, where he claimed he would struggle to find work.

He also admitted that he had previously been arrested and deported several times but repeatedly re-entered Thailand illegally through natural border crossings in Sa Kaeo province. He told investigators he paid about 5,000-6,000 baht each time to be transported by van into the country.

During the operation, officials also detained two Cambodian women. One, identified as Moi, 42, was allegedly begging while carrying her two-month-old baby, with her seven-year-old child sitting nearby. Another woman, identified as Por, 50, was also found begging in the same area.

All three adults were taken to Pattaya City Police Station for processing before being handed over to immigration authorities for legal action, verification of their immigration records and deportation proceedings.

The two children were placed under the care of the Chon Buri Children and Family Shelter to ensure their safety and welfare.

Authorities said they would intensify efforts to crack down on foreign beggars and human smuggling networks, particularly cases involving the use of children for begging, saying the practice harms children’s welfare and damages Pattaya’s image as an international tourist destination.

8 monks killed, 13 injured after pickup truck ploughs into pilgrimage in Mukdahan

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Khaosod English

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2 July 2026, 13:00

MUKDAHAN — Eight Buddhist monks were killed and 13 others seriously injured after a pickup truck crashed into a group of monks on a walking pilgrimage in northeastern Thailand’s Mukdahan province on Thursday, police said.

The crash occurred at about 12:00 on a roadside in Ban Na Si Nuan, Mueang district. Rescue workers, police and emergency responders rushed to the scene, where monks were found lying on the road and roadside. Five monks were pronounced dead at the scene, while three others later died in hospital. Thirteen injured monks were taken to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment.

Preliminary police investigations found that the pickup truck was being driven by a juvenile, who allegedly took the vehicle without permission from a parent or guardian before crashing into the procession of monks. Authorities secured the scene and are gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses and investigating the cause of the crash. The investigation is ongoing.

Doctors remove stone-like vaginal mass linked by patient to ritual in Indonesia

By

Khaosod English

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2 July 2026, 12:31

This article contains descriptions of a surgical procedure and medical details some readers may find disturbing.

SONGKHLA — 2 July 2026, Doctors at Hatyai Hospital have removed a large stone-like mass from a 47-year-old woman who had suffered chronic pelvic pain for three years, in an unusual case the patient linked to a ritual she said she underwent in Indonesia years earlier.

Dr. Sunthorn Srisuwan, an associate professor of orthopaedics at Hatyai Hospital in Songkhla province, shared details of the case on his Facebook page under the title “Sorcery vs. Medical Science and Nursing Science at Hatyai Regional Hospital.”

The patient had experienced chronic lower abdominal pain for three years, along with pelvic pressure while urinating and abnormal vaginal discharge. She initially sought treatment at a provincial hospital before undergoing a computed tomography (CT) scan for further investigation.

The scan revealed a foreign object measuring approximately 10 to 12 centimetres inside her vaginal canal. The irregularly shaped mass contained a horseshoe-like internal structure, prompting doctors to refer her to Hatyai Hospital.

A gynaecological oncology team led by Dr. Khosit Tantinam and Dr. Atcharawadee Poolsawat examined the patient and found that the mass was extremely hard, resembling stone. They then consulted the orthopaedic department to determine the safest way to remove it.

Inside the operating theatre, doctors initially planned to chip away at the mass and remove it through the vaginal canal. However, after assessing its size, shape and hardness, they concluded that approach would be impossible and could leave fragments behind. After discussions between the teams, doctors decided that a laparotomy, or abdominal surgery, would provide a much safer approach.

During the operation, the gynaecology team performed a hysterectomy, partially opened the vaginal canal and carefully dissected dense scar tissue through both the vaginal route and the retroperitoneal space behind the abdominal cavity. Because the area is surrounded by the bowel, ureters and other vital organs, the procedure carried significant risks.

The orthopaedic team used specialised instruments to separate scar tissue from the stone-like mass from below, while the gynaecologists created space from above by clearing adhesions within the pelvic cavity. Working together, the multidisciplinary team eventually succeeded in removing the object intact.

Dr. Sunthorn said freeing the mass proved exceptionally difficult. As it was finally about to come loose, members of the surgical team jokingly asked permission from “the unseen” before continuing. Moments later, the object was successfully extracted.

According to the patient, she had lived in Indonesia several years ago and underwent what she described as a ritual performed by a spiritual practitioner, during which an object was allegedly inserted into her vaginal canal. Because the event occurred many years ago, she said she could no longer remember exactly how the ritual was carried out.

After removing the mass, surgeons opened it because CT imaging had shown multiple dense, round objects inside. When the hardened outer shell was broken apart, doctors found foul-smelling mud-like material and fluid that filled the operating room with a powerful odour.

Further examination revealed green and red acrylic-like spheres measuring about three centimetres in diameter, along with 11 multicoloured beads measuring roughly five millimetres each.

The medical team stressed that it could not determine how the alleged ritual had been performed or explain how the contents had developed into a putrid mud-and-fluid mixture while the outer layer hardened into a stone-like shell.

Dr. Sunthorn said removing the mass intact proved to be the correct decision, as breaking it apart inside the body could have released foul material and foreign debris into the pelvic cavity, greatly increasing the risk of post-operative infection.

According to information cited by Dr. Sunthorn from Manop Janthanaphan, the object’s appearance was consistent with items believed by some practitioners of Indonesian occult traditions to be associated with so-called love-charm rituals, including the reported use of cemetery soil and coloured beads.

However, the medical team said it could not independently verify those claims or establish any scientific connection between the patient’s account and the object removed during surgery.

Purple alert as rising sea temperatures signal imminent coral bleaching crisis

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Khaosod English

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2 July 2026, 10:48

Purple alert as rising sea temperatures signal imminent coral bleaching crisis

BANGKOK — 2 July 2026, A Thai marine scientist has warned that rising sea temperatures could trigger another widespread coral bleaching event, as global monitoring shows conditions rapidly worsening ahead of a forecast super El Niño.

Asst. Prof. Thon Thamrongnawasawat, Deputy Dean for Special Affairs at the Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, shared an image published by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Thursday. NOAA is responsible for monitoring and forecasting changes in the climate, oceans and ecosystems.

The graphic shows NOAA’s global coral bleaching alert map, projecting bleaching risks across oceans worldwide as an impending super El Niño develops. The highest warning level, shown in purple, has already appeared across parts of the central Pacific Ocean.

Thon said the NOAA graphic illustrates a terrifying threat that is gradually creeping closer. The coral bleaching alert system has five colour-coded levels, and Thailand has not seen areas approaching the highest warning colours for a long time. Now, however, purple zones have already emerged across parts of the central Pacific.

Sea surface temperatures are directly linked to coral bleaching, he said. Although the world has entered the early stages of El Niño only recently, the highest-level warning zones are already beginning to appear.

“I don’t want to imagine how severe conditions could become when El Niño reaches its peak and develops into a super El Niño between November and January,” Thon said.

Based on the projection, he said the red and purple zones are expected to gradually move closer to Southeast Asia, signalling that another major coral bleaching event could be approaching.

Although scattered bleaching incidents have already been reported, Thon said there are still about six months to prepare before the most critical period arrives.

If current projections continue, he warned that Thailand’s marine ecosystems could face their most severe impacts between February and June next year.

The Faculty of Fisheries is now accelerating preparations at several study sites, focusing on coral reefs and seagrass beds while exploring ways to help protect them if sea temperatures rise significantly. Even if the effort can cover only limited areas, he said, the faculty will do everything within its capability.

Thon added that unusually warm seas would affect not only marine ecosystems but also coastal fisheries, aquaculture and tourism, as some reef areas may need to be temporarily closed to allow ecosystems to recover.

“We need to prepare Plans A through Z thoroughly. The warning signs are already here, signalling that this upcoming onslaught could be extremely severe,” he said. “A red alert is approaching.”

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