The Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) will launch the AI Governance Clinic by ETDA (AIGC) during the “Building Trust and Partnership in AI Governance” event to be held on November 8.
The Clinic will serve as a source of Thai and overseas knowledge and expertise on governance related to artificial intelligence (AI) and its adoption.
ETDA is joining forces with the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC), the Ministry of Public Health’s Department of Medical Services, and the Department of Health Service Support. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between ETDA and the three partners will be signed at the event to kick off the framework for AI governance and adaptation in Thailand, starting with the medical sector. The event will be broadcast live on the Facebook page of ETDA Thailand.
ETDA Executive Director Dr. Chaichana Mitrpant said, “Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is playing an important role in virtually all dimensions of people’s lives these days — work, business, education, finance, health and electronic transactions. These matters all involve the use of AI”.
The Cabinet recently approved a six-year national implementation plan on artificial intelligence for national development (between 2022 and 2027). A strategy set in the plan involves the adoption of AI with governance alongside relevant laws and regulations to ensure that the users recognize social responsibility.
ETDA, as an agency that promotes a safe and reliable ecosystem for electronic transactions, is making preparations for Thailand’s adoption of AI, another modern technology that has become increasingly popular and relevant.
The agency is partnering with NECTEC in achieving the goals set in the implementation plan. Among their important joint projects are a study on Thailand’s AI standard landscape to develop measures for AI adoption and a study on measures to assess AI-based computer programs to improve the capacity of Thai entrepreneurs in all industries in accordance with international standards.
The “Building Trust and Partnership in AI Governance” event will be held on November 8, 2022, when the AI Governance Clinic by ETDA (AIGC) will be launched.
ETDA and its partners — both in Thailand and overseas — have established the Clinic to develop a framework for AI governance regarding electronic transactions in a way that is in line with Thailand’s context and international standards.
The Clinic also serves as a source of capacity development at all levels, by working with the Academy of Digital Transformation by ETDA (ADTE). Moreover, AIGC has a large collection of knowledge resources on relevant subjects, with experts from many countries who are ready to offer advice on AI policies and governance.
At the event, an MOU will be signed between ETDA and its partners, namely NECTEC, the Department of Medical Services, and the Department of Health Service Support, for the joint development of an AI governance framework for Thailand’s medical sector that is compatible with the Thai context. The collaboration is meant to promote the exchange of knowledge of innovation and AI technologies between the agencies involved, in addition to educating relevant agencies about AI governance.
“AIGC, the first of its kind in Thailand, marks the beginning of cooperation between agencies to promote AI governance in the country”, said the ETDA Executive Director.
At the event, Thai and foreign experts will talk about AI governance on the following topics:
- A special lecture on “The Need for Thailand’s AI Governance: Why, What and How?” by ETDA Senior Advisor Dr. Sak Segkhoonthod. He will discuss the background, significance of AI, and the AI Governance Clinic by ETDA in using AI in accordance with international governance standards.
- A panel discussion on “The Need for AI Governance” involving the adaption of AI in medicine, impacts and potential risks, and interesting cases of AI governance, as well as the need for governance rules on the use of AI for medical and public health purposes. The panel discussion will feature (1) Dr. Nawanan Theera-Ampornpunt, Deputy Dean for Operations and Clinical Informatics and lecturer at the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital at Mahidol University, (2) Dr. Paisan Ruamviboonsuk, Chairman of the Center of Excellence for Retinal Disease, Rajavithi Hospital under the Ministry of Public Health’s Department of Medical Services. He is an ophthalmologist specializing in retina/vitreous treatment, and (3) Professor Dr. Urs Gasser, an expert in public policies and Internet governance and Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Technology at Technische Universität München in Munich, Germany. The discussion will be moderated by ETDA Senior Advisor Dr. Sak Segkhoonthod.
Interested people may take part in the “Building Trust and Partnership in AI Governance” event on November 8, 2022, from 1.30 pm onwards. Live streaming is also available through ETDA Thailand’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ETDA.Thailand).