Bangkok: 'KARDI' has formally submitted five key observations to the Minister of Digital Economy and Society, urging the termination of the 1,621 million baht TH-AI Passport project. The initiative aims to ensure transparent and sustainable development of Thai innovation, fostering collaboration in creating new AI standards.
According to Thai News Agency, Dr. Kardee Leowpairoj, Deputy Leader of the Democrat Party, led a delegation to submit an open letter to the Minister of Digital Economy and Society. The letter reflects a commitment to safeguard taxpayers' money by presenting five critical observations regarding the TH-AI Passport project. The project, intended to enhance digital and AI skills among Thais, is under scrutiny for its substantial budget and potential inefficiencies. Dr. Kardee emphasized the need for a review, adjustment, or cancellation of the contract to prioritize state and taxpayer interests.
The first issue raised by Dr. Kardee concerns transparency and the procurement process. He highlighted that the project approval process was rushed, with amendments to key terms of reference during a caretaker government period, which potentially favored certain contractors. Dr. Kardee called for a transparent investigation into these irregularities before any budget acceptance or disbursement.
The second observation pertains to the lack of cost-effectiveness and substandard system quality compared to free AI solutions. The project's initial goal was to provide professional-level AI access to 5 million people. However, performance testing revealed that the Generative AI program (Ai Pass) is of lower quality than commonly available free programs. Dr. Kardee noted that similar projects, such as one by OKMD costing only 2.4 million baht, achieved comparable results, highlighting the inefficiency of the 1,621 million baht investment.
Dr. Kardee's third issue addresses the lack of transparency in the pay-per-use payment system. He pointed out that the explanation for changing the payment model lacks clarity on critical aspects, such as criteria for token counting, defining an active user, and verifying actual users. Without a rigorous verification system, there is a risk of overpayment and potential corruption. Dr. Kardee urged for revised procurement contracts to specify clear details to ensure verifiability.
The fourth issue involves a violation of the terms of reference (TOR) and its impact on data sovereignty. Dr. Kardee noted that foreign models process data on servers abroad, directly violating TOR Clause 2.2, which mandates local data processing. This not only breaches the TOR but also impacts long-term security and data sovereignty. Furthermore, the Ai Pass program was found to be inferior in several aspects compared to TOR requirements.
The fifth observation highlights the lack of clear key performance indicators (KPIs) for the multi-billion baht project. Dr. Kardee stressed that the absence of measurable performance indicators for upgrading AI skills among Thais results in a lack of strategic direction for the investment.
Dr. Kardee further stated that project cancellation is permissible under Section 97 of the Public Procurement and Government Supplies Management Act B.E. 2560 (2017). This allows government agencies to amend contract terms for public interest, including revising the scope of work, reducing the budget, or canceling the project without penalties to the state.
"Our visit today, in addition to highlighting certain concerns, is also a collective effort to protect taxpayers' money, ensuring that every baht is used most effectively for the true future of technology and artificial intelligence for Thailand," concluded Dr. Kardee.