Author: lethuha

📌 Thailand’s data center capacity is expected to grow from 350 MW to 1 GW by 2027, with $6.5 billion in investment from major players such as Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. The key reason is the country’s stable energy infrastructure and its ambition to catch up with Singapore and Malaysia in the AI sector. In the first half of 2025 alone, 36 tech projects have been approved, with a total investment of nearly \$10 billion. Thailand stands out thanks to its stable electricity and water supply, making it an attractive destination for data center expansion.

📌 The UAE is demonstrating its global leadership in education by integrating AI into schools and digitizing knowledge content. Students from grades 1 to 4 will be evaluated through continuous assessment instead of exams, focusing on critical thinking and analytical skills. The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) is also pioneering the digitization of hundreds of print books, including original Arabic works and translations, converting them into digital and audio formats to expand access. The “Wajeez Al Kutub” project provides a library of summaries for hundreds of books, supporting UAE authors by digitizing publications from the Esdarat project and the Qalam…

📌 91% of Thais have integrated AI into their lives, with Gen Z leading in adoption while also being concerned about ethical risks. AI use in the workplace has surged by 93% in just one year, yet only 30% of companies have a clear strategy. Citizens view upskilling as a personal responsibility, and 61% believe they can govern AI better than the government. The demand for safe, fair, and humane AI has become a key factor for sustainable development.

📌 A new MIT report warns that 95% of corporate generative AI projects are failing, despite high expectations. The main reasons: poor integration, wrong tool selection, and misplaced investment focus. Meanwhile, small startups are achieving success through targeted implementation. Companies need to focus on logistics automation and collaborate with specialized vendors to effectively leverage AI.

📌 The UAE is transitioning to a post-oil economy with AI: projected to account for 14% of GDP by 2030, with the domestic market growing from $3.47 billion to $50 billion. Major projects include Stargate UAE – the largest AI data center outside the US – and a $1.5 billion investment by Microsoft in G42. Along with two programs to train 1 million AI talents, the UAE is laying the foundation for sustainable growth and technological leadership in the Middle East and North Africa.

📌 Sri Lanka has established the National AI Fund worth Rs 100 million (333.000 USD) to foster innovation, aiming for a 15 billion digital economy by 2030, with AI contributing 10–12% (1.5–1.5– 1.8 billion). SLT’s 5G, fiber optic, and data center infrastructure will serve as the foundation. The AI Expo 2025 in Colombo and its satellite events will promote international cooperation, while the government prepares a national AI policy to ensure sustainable and responsible development.

📌 China is changing the global AI landscape with a wave of open-source models like Qwen and DeepSeek, causing the U.S. to worry about losing its strategic position. With 60% of global AI patents and superior regional language processing capabilities, China aims to make open-source AI the new standard. China is also promoting international cooperation on open-source AI, viewing it as a new geopolitical tool to build a global “circle of friends” and bridge the digital divide.

📌 South Korea will invest a total of 100 trillion won ($72.3 billion) over the next five years in an innovation ecosystem centered on five key sectors: AI, biotechnology, cultural content, defense & aerospace, and clean energy. The goal is to become a top 3 global AI leader, build a nationwide “AI highway,” develop a technology ecosystem, and establish a modern renewable energy network by the 2040s.

📌 AI could help the Philippines grow by 1.8 trillion pesos, equivalent to 7% of GVA, with the strongest impact on wholesale and retail (410 billion pesos) and finance and insurance (300 billion pesos). Additionally, AI could reduce fraud costs by 180 billion pesos, increase agricultural productivity by 120 billion pesos, and 50% of the population already uses AI weekly, demonstrating rapid adoption among the young workforce.

📌 The Philippine Government’s AI Academy aims to train an “AI-proficient” workforce with practical skills in finance, healthcare, and cybersecurity to help counter the impact of automation on 85% of global jobs. Simultaneously, projects like TunAi and a native AI engine will help combat fake news and serve the community, fostering an innovative and sustainable digital economy. https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/on-the-radar/2025/08/11/2464716/inside-philippine-govts-plan-upskill-workers-ai