Step into the future, a world where artificial intelligence isn’t just a plot in a sci-fi movie, but the star of the show in 2024’s technological landscape. This very scenario unfolded amidst the refined ambiance of the British Club in Bangkok, where the British Council orchestrated a gathering of minds that heralded the dawning of an AI-centric era. Picture this: Five trailblazers from eclectic backgrounds, their intellects cutting through the humid Thai air as they foretold the approaching tidal wave of AI innovation.
Above the buzz of excited chatter, Assistant Professor Ake Pattaratanakun of Chulalongkorn Business School dispelled the AI bogeyman myth. With the grace of a seasoned academic, she spoke, “Improvements in AI, especially in generative AI, are allies, not foes.” Through her lens, we’re not headed towards a mass job exodus but inching towards a symbiosis with our silicon-wrought assistants.
Imagine a world where ChatGPT, Dall-E, and Midjourney aren’t just geeky buzzwords but members of the everyday vernacular. These AI game-changers have slipped seamlessly into our toolkits, beckoning us to embrace and demystify the marvels they offer.
Jantima Hiraga, Thailand’s captain at the helm of Pearson Education, also danced along the fine line between technology’s potential and its pitfalls. With AI encroaching on the sanctums of education and the working world, she waved a flag for ethics in this uncharted territory. Highlighting the nascent nature of AI governance in the Land of Smiles, Jantima juxtaposed it against the European Union’s freshly inked AI Act, calling for a playing field framed by ethical guardrails.
Sweeping into the conversation with the flair of a media maven, Mr. Wit Sittivaekin positioned Thailand as a beacon in the electric vehicle revolution. Chinese investment in EVs isn’t just a far-eastern fairy tale but a boon that promises to electrify Thailand’s economy—a testament to its status as a regional powerhouse.
Cutting through the cacophony of economic chatter, Asst Prof Romyen Kosaikanont, armed with her expertise in gender equality, shone a spotlight on the quest for sustainable development. Within the hallowed halls of Mae Fah Luang University, she preaches the gospel of an education system in metamorphosis—a phoenix rising to champion flexibility and mold warriors fit for tomorrow’s job arena.
Despite the bullish forecasts, Asst Prof Ake cast a shadow of pragmatism across the panel, cautioning against relentless optimism. With the specter of climbing fuel and fertilizer prices, he anticipates the stern hand of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, predicting a cascade of interest rate hikes to hold back the inflationary tide in 2024.
Each panelist, a maestro in their field, spun a narrative thread that, when woven together, presented a tapestry of 2024—a year where AI isn’t just a sidekick but a full-fledged partner in the dance of progress. As the Bangkok sun set on the British Club’s balconies, one thing was abundanly clear: In the land where the Chao Phraya River flows, AI readiness isn’t just advisable; it’s imperative.
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