Small firms look for state assistance in AI campaign

Small businesses in Thailand are advocating for state assistance to help them adopt small versions of artificial intelligence (AI). Noppong Teeravorn, president of the Federation of Thai SME Association, has proposed three measures to make small AI more accessible to smaller enterprises.

The first proposal suggests providing trial vouchers or partial subsidies for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to encourage them to experiment with small AI. Mr. Noppong believes that relying solely on tax incentives would not fully address the barriers to access for many small businesses, which often struggle with limited revenue and narrow profit margins.

The second proposal involves establishing nationwide "small AI clinics" to improve business operators' skills in using small AI. These clinics would provide consultation, practical guidance, ongoing mentorship, and matchmaking with suitable developers for real-world business challenges.

The third measure aims to mitigate potential risks associated with AI adoption, including customer data protection, system security, awareness of AI-generated fake images and audio, and support for Thai-language AI models. Mr. Noppong emphasizes that small AI could significantly lower the barriers to AI adoption for SMEs, offering tools that can lower routine workloads, allowing business owners to focus on customer service, product development, and business management.