Insights from Practice: Building an AI Governance Clinic in Thailand
Thailand’s AI Governance Clinic (AIGC) was established in 2022 by the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) as part of a national effort to build capacity in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Operating under the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, ETDA aims to promote and safeguard Thailand’s transition to a digital economy and society. The AIGC was launched in collaboration with the Digital Asia Hub Thailand, a non-profit think tank associated with Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, and the TUM Think Tank from the Technical University of Munich.
Core Activities of AIGC
In its initial year, the AIGC undertook several key activities:
- Community Building: The AIGC aims to enhance capacity in AI governance by fostering communities of knowledge and practice. This includes a fellowship program that brings together local experts from various fields who serve as liaisons to their organizations. They meet regularly to share use cases and engage in collaborative research. An international policy advisory panel (IPAP) complements this network, providing mentorship and resources in areas such as health, education, and entrepreneurship.
- AI Ethics Implementation Toolkit: To support the adoption of international best practices, such as the UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, AIGC members, including fellows and IPAP experts, developed actionable guidelines. One significant output was the release of the “AI Governance Guidelines for Executives”, which aims to equip managers with tools to operationalize principles of good AI governance within their organizations.
- Life-long Learning: The AIGC, in partnership with local universities, launched the AiX AI Executive Program, offering a specialized introduction to the Guidelines for healthcare administrators. This program included an AI readiness assessment framework and practical advice for evaluating and mitigating risks associated with AI in healthcare.
Interdisciplinary Clinical Component
In its second operational year, the AIGC aims to enhance its interdisciplinary “clinical” component. This initiative provides a unique forum for participants from both the private and public sectors to tackle real-world challenges in implementing AI governance. It facilitates access to knowledge from local and global experts and encourages the sharing of insights into applying high-level policies and guidelines across various sectors, including healthcare, finance, and governance.
Early Insights
Three key lessons have emerged from the AIGC’s first year of operation:
- Commitment and Trust: Establishing a collaborative platform to support the translation of AI principles into practice requires significant commitment and mutual trust. The AIGC’s successful launch was facilitated by strong support from ETDA’s senior leadership and pre-existing relationships built on trust.
- Prioritization of Governance Issues: Given the rapidly evolving landscape of AI governance, it is essential to prioritize governance issues according to local context and needs rather than attempting to address everything at once. For instance, the AIGC identified healthcare and finance as initial thematic priorities, allowing for focused resource allocation and the leveraging of existing expertise.
- Long-term Capacity Building: Transforming international guidelines into practical applications requires substantial time and resources, particularly in developing countries. Initiatives like the AIGC can inspire coordinated efforts locally, supported by strategic commitments from international organizations such as UNESCO.
In conclusion, the establishment of the AI Governance Clinic in Thailand serves as a compelling case study in fostering AI governance capacity. Its multi-stakeholder approach not only addresses immediate governance challenges but also builds a foundation for sustainable development in the rapidly advancing field of artificial intelligence.
