Pichai points out the fierce global AI competition and warns Thailand must not fall behind. He views Data Centers as crucial infrastructure, emphasizing the need for reliable power, water, and skilled personnel. He notes that linked industries such as AI, GPU, and robotics create high-skilled jobs and generate substantial new income.
18 Sep 2026 GMT+7 Pichai Naripthaphan, former Minister of Commerce, said the competition in AI is intensifying worldwide, with countries rushing to develop Data Centers, chips, cloud systems, and energy infrastructure to handle large-scale data processing. Thailand must quickly establish these systems to avoid missing out on technology competition and to transform digital investments into a new economic foundation.
Pichai added, Data Centers are not just data storage facilities but vital infrastructure for the AI economy. For Thailand to seriously develop AI, it needs sufficient Data Centers, cloud systems, GPUs, and digital infrastructure to support research, model training, and industrial-scale use. Thailand should welcome Data Center investments, but they must be designed to benefit the country by developing AI, cloud, GPU, robotics, and domestic supply chains. This includes power systems, cooling, network equipment, electronics, software, and related technologies to create continuous industries and add value locally.
Meanwhile, AI and Data Center growth will sharply increase electricity demand. Thailand must prepare stable, cost-competitive power generation and upgrade grids to support data center energy use across regions. It should also accelerate clean energy adoption to align investments with tech companies' trends and environmental targets. Beyond power, water is critical infrastructure since some cooling systems require large water volumes. Thailand should plan water management alongside Data Center development by enhancing storage, developing sources, and recycling water, managing costs and resources to avoid burdening citizens and businesses.
Although Data Centers themselves may not employ many staff directly, they generate jobs and businesses across AI, GPU, cloud, robotics, engineering, software, equipment manufacturing, power, cooling, water management, and tech services—mostly high-skilled roles. Therefore, Data Center impact assessments should consider employment and business across the entire economic chain, including investments in power, water, and infrastructure that boost national capability. Thailand must also provide students, researchers, engineers, and youth access to GPUs, cloud, and AI tools through universities, research centers, and private sector partnerships to enable software development, research, and new business creation.
The former Commerce Minister further revealed Thailand should use Data Center investment as a starting point to build domestic supply chains linked to electronics, chips, printed circuit boards (PCBs), power systems, cooling, network equipment, software, water management, energy, and related technologies. In 2024, while serving as Prime Minister’s advisor, he helped attract investors in PCB and electronics industries to Thailand, which support export growth, especially electronics. Last year, Thailand’s exports grew 12.9%, and since early this year, exports have increased 18.93%, driven largely by electronics.
“I want to see extensive investment in Data Centers and AI in Thailand because Data Centers form the infrastructure that enables AI, cloud, GPU, robotics, and advanced electronics industries. If Thailand can connect technology, power, water, and personnel investments, it will build a new economic base for the country,” he said.
The key issue is not just the number of direct Data Center jobs but how Thailand can leverage these investments to create an AI ecosystem and domestic supply chains. Thailand should accept Data Center investment but transform it into national capabilities—advancing AI and GPU development, building supply chains, manufacturing equipment domestically, upgrading power and water systems, developing skilled personnel, and providing access to technology. The goal is not merely to have Data Centers but to establish an AI ecosystem that generates new businesses, high-skilled jobs, and long-term income for Thai people.