The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE) has agreed to revise the terms of the “TH-AI Passport” project to a pay-per-use system. Registration will begin on 1 July. The ministry emphasizes transparency and promises to terminate the project if corruption is detected.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of DE revealed the outcomes of the public consultation on the TH-AI Passport project, indicating plans to renegotiate contracts with partners to adopt a success fee payment model, paying only for actual usage. This move aims to eliminate accusations that the government favors certain parties. He denied claims that the terms of reference (TOR) were tailored to lock specifications for convenience store screens. He emphasized that the public relations budget is minimal and stressed that it is better to conduct audits now rather than face issues after retirement. He vowed that if corruption is found, the project will be canceled immediately.
On 11 June 2026, Mr. Patchara Anantasillp, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE), spoke after chairing the “TH-AI Passport Forum” to gather feedback and exchange views on the project. He said the ministry received very useful input, especially regarding risk reduction and budget concerns. The Minister has therefore tasked the team to adjust the approach toward negotiating with partners based on the principle of “pay only for what is used,” to avoid disadvantaging the government if the user target of 5 million people is not met.
Regarding criticism of the TOR condition requiring publicity via 1,500 digital screens in convenience stores, Mr. Patchara clarified this is a minor detail. The budget for this part is about 900,000 baht for the entire project. Public relations is just one small activity within the overall plan, which includes training and seminars nationwide through online, offline, and printed media to ensure the public can access and learn about AI systems comprehensively.
“We want it to be comprehensive; the only thing missing is handing out flyers or parade trucks. Please be fair to us. We have passed the TOR stage and are now at the contract phase, where we can negotiate amendments within the framework mutually agreed upon by both parties,” Mr. Patchara said.
When asked why only Microsoft participated in the forum, the DE Permanent Secretary explained that social criticism made some foreign companies concerned about their image and reluctant to get involved. Microsoft, however, saw no issue and willingly joined. He added that inviting service providers is the contractor’s responsibility, not the ministry’s role.
Regarding remarks that if the project does not launch under this government it might never happen, Mr. Patchara said this was a personal view on cost-effectiveness. He noted that commercial AI use typically costs a minimum of about 259 baht per month, whereas the TH-AI Passport project averages only 27 baht per person per month and offers access to a wider variety of AI models.
Looking ahead, the Ministry of DE aims to finalize contract amendments by June to enable public registration starting 1 July 2026.