Thailand Leads OECD in AI Optimism as Confidence Hits 66.8%

Thailand is emerging as an unusually enthusiastic adopter of artificial intelligence, with new national data showing that 66.8% of Thais believe AI will positively affect their lives and work. The figure places Thailand first among 23 countries included in the OECD comparison and highlights a broader transformation in which digital development is increasingly moving beyond internet access toward AI skills, innovation, and practical technology use.

The findings come from the Thailand Digital Outlook 2026, released by the National Digital Economy and Society Commission (NDESC) following a nationwide survey of more than 46,810 respondents. Developed around the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Going Digital Toolkit, this Thailand AI News report reveals notable progress in AI attitudes, digital skills, connectivity, cloud adoption, and cybersecurity. NDESC has conducted the project since 2019, with the 2026 edition collecting information across 102 indicators spanning eight OECD-aligned dimensions.

Thai Confidence in AI Surpasses International Benchmark

The standout finding is the extraordinary level of confidence Thais have in artificial intelligence. According to the survey, 66.80% believe AI will have a positive impact on their lives and work, compared with an OECD average of just 28.60%.

That means Thailand’s recorded level of AI optimism is more than twice the OECD benchmark cited in the study.

Enthusiasm is also translating into adoption. The report found that 31.56% of Thais have already begun using AI in their daily lives or workplaces. Meanwhile, 37.82% are interested in learning to use application programs, while 33.86% want to develop text-based prompting skills.

The figures suggest AI is rapidly moving beyond government strategies and corporate technology departments into everyday use. Interest in prompting is particularly noteworthy because it indicates that users increasingly want to understand how to communicate effectively with generative AI systems rather than simply experiment with them.

Young Thai Women Take the Lead in Coding

Another striking result involves Thai women aged 16 to 24. Their coding-skills rate reached 23.91%, placing them first among the 36 countries included in that OECD comparison.

This emerging pool of technically skilled young women could become increasingly important as Thailand expands industries involving software development, AI, data services, digital platforms, and technology-driven entrepreneurship.

Developing those capabilities could also help Thailand progress from consuming imported technologies toward building digital products, services, and intellectual property domestically.

Thai Businesses Strengthen Their Digital Foundations

Thailand’s business sector is also demonstrating substantial digital readiness. High-speed internet connectivity among businesses reached 94.05%, ranking second in the relevant OECD comparison.

Paid cloud-service usage stood at 65.42%, placing Thailand ninth among 40 countries examined, while 57.42% of businesses reported having cybersecurity measures in place, ranking third among 28 countries.

These indicators are particularly relevant to AI development. Reliable connectivity, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and digitally capable employees provide businesses with the infrastructure needed to deploy AI, process data, automate operations, and develop new digital services.

Thailand’s Mobile Economy Continues Expanding

Internet access among Thai households has reached 93.20%, while 97.06% of users primarily access the internet through mobile phones, reinforcing Thailand’s position as a heavily mobile-centered digital economy.

E-marketplaces dominate online purchasing, accounting for 85.9% of online purchases of goods and services, with average spending reaching 435.83 baht per transaction.

Consumer goods represent the largest online product category at 29.27%, followed by clothing and footwear at 24.55% and cosmetics at 14.68%.

Trust nevertheless remains critical. Platform trustworthiness was identified as the leading influence on purchasing decisions by 64.26% of consumers. Those who have not purchased goods online continue to cite concerns surrounding personal-data security and payment systems.

Thailand Wants Innovators, Not Just Technology Users

NDESC Secretary-General Wethang Puangsap presided over the seminar presenting the Thailand Digital Outlook findings. The event also featured a panel discussion titled “From Digital Adoption to Innovation Leadership: Advancing Thailand’s Digital Economy,” bringing together representatives from the National Innovation Agency, Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion, Big Data Institute, and Thai Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises Association.

The broader ambition is to move Thai entrepreneurs beyond simply using digital technology and help them become innovators capable of combining technology, data, and digital skills to generate added value and compete internationally.

Thailand’s remarkable enthusiasm for AI provides a strong foundation, but confidence alone cannot guarantee long-term digital competitiveness. The next challenge will be transforming that enthusiasm into advanced skills, responsible AI deployment, stronger cybersecurity, trusted data practices, and commercially valuable innovation. The Thailand Digital Outlook 2026 ultimately portrays a country entering a more sophisticated stage of digital transformation, where success will increasingly depend not merely on access to technology, but on how intelligently and productively that technology is used.