People's Party Leader Questions 1.6B Baht AI Passport Project Value, Cites Restrictions

People's Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut on Friday criticized the government's 1.6 billion baht TH-AI Passport project as offering poor value for money, suggesting the funds could be better utilized for reforming government services using artificial intelligence. Speaking at the Future Forward Building in Bangkok at 1 p.m., Natthaphong stated that while he did not oppose efforts to improve public awareness and understanding of AI, he questioned the project's transparency and the allocation of its budget. He asserted that if the People's Party were in power, the 1.6 billion baht could be invested more effectively to expand the practical application of AI in Thailand. Natthaphong pointed to Singapore as an example, noting that its government prioritizes applying AI technology to reform government processes rather than solely competing in AI model development or encouraging public use. He explained that AI could be instrumental in reducing costs, enhancing efficiency, and simplifying interactions between businesses and government agencies. "If we had the opportunity and authority to decide how to spend the 1.6 billion baht, I think it could be used much more effectively," he said. When asked about fellow People's Party MP Rukchanok Srinok's earlier remark calling the project "worse than something free," Natthaphong confirmed he had tried the service. He emphasized that the core issue isn't just the AI's performance compared to other services, as TH-AI Passport already relies on AI models from commercial tech firms. The project's stated aim is to boost AI adoption and literacy. Furthermore, Natthaphong raised concerns over user reports indicating restrictions on certain prompts and responses when dealing with sensitive topics. He highlighted that questions unanswered by the government-backed service could still be answered by commercial services using the same underlying AI models. This, he argued, raises questions about whether TH-AI Passport has been configured in a way that could limit users' freedom to ask questions or express opinions.