Chaiyachonok denied the controversy over TH-AI Passport, confirming that the budget is allocated based on actual usage to ensure taxpayers' value. He urged the public to try the app extensively before making judgments and said the app would be launched within one week, with efforts to improve the Thai version.
At 18:25 on 31 Aug 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Chaiyachonok Chidchob, Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DES), gave an interview at Songkhla Provincial Hall regarding the response to the usage of “TH-AI Passport,” which launched on its first day. He said that from visiting the field, the public responded well, downloading and beginning to test the system. Currently, it is web-based, while the app is awaiting approval from Google Play and App Store and is expected to be available within one week.
Regarding criticism that the AI in the project is not as good as the paid versions, Mr. Chaiyachonok said, “Have you tried it yourself?” He invited the public to download, register by scanning, and try it themselves before deciding. He said it is untrue that it is not as good as free versions and encouraged everyone to try it. He noted there are still over 3 million rights left, and the Prime Minister has promoted the project several times. This project aims to reduce inequality.
Mr. Chaiyachonok also revealed that registrations have reached about 1.3 million out of a 5 million target. The DES is actively promoting the project. The budget is adjusted to pay-per-use, so the government and citizens do not lose out, ensuring efficient tax spending regardless of user numbers. He emphasized there is no pressure but wants more people to use it as it truly benefits free users.
He added that those who have always used free programs should try various leading AI models and access over 56 courses in collaboration with global partners like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft before making a judgment.
Asked about continuing the project into a second phase after one year if feedback is good, Mr. Chaiyachonok said that feedback alone is not as important as the actual outcomes improving users’ quality of life. If that is the case, continuation will be considered after one year. However, he could not confirm if the same model would be used because AI technology evolves rapidly—much will change in one year. The focus will be on the most tax-efficient model.
When asked about issues with instability in Thai language processing and possible improvements, Mr. Chaiyachonok said development must continue. The main goal is to use non-personal data to accelerate the development of a large language model (LLM) for Thai with better performance. He urged everyone to try it extensively and promised continuous improvement.