Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has proposed a tri-pillar AI governance framework on the global stage, emphasising public protection, unlocking human potential and fostering shared prosperity.
Speaking at the opening of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) on Friday morning, Anutin addressed global leaders on the theme of ‘AI Partnership for a Brighter Future’.
The summit, held at the Shanghai World Reception Hall, was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, alongside high-level delegates from various nations, international organisations, businesses and academic institutions.
“Humanity is facing a major technological shift as AI reshapes daily life,” Anutin said. “The benefits of such technology depend heavily on international cooperation to steer AI development in a responsible direction.”
He commended China’s leadership in global AI governance, welcoming initiatives like the newly proposed World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation, while also expressing strong support for the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance, reinforcing the collective goal of building an AI future in which no one is left behind.
Anutin detailed Thailand’s proposed framework, stating that “AI governance must be based on three core principles.”
“The first pillar is ‘Protection’. AI must serve humanity by safeguarding human rights, privacy and dignity. It must also mitigate risks associated with bias, hate speech and deliberate misuse, such as the spread of deepfakes and disinformation,” he explained.
The PM referenced UNESCO's ethical recommendations as a vital foundation for the effort to combat transnational crime, online scams and human trafficking. In line with this, Thailand has partnered with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to develop the ‘SHIELD’ platform to secure cross-border data sharing, a collaborative network which China has also shown interest in joining.
He added that “The second pillar is ‘Potential’. Regulatory frameworks must be predictable and trustworthy without stifling technological innovation. This balance will foster development while maintaining public confidence.”
“The third pillar is ‘Prosperity’. The true success of AI must be measured by human progress. The technology should be harnessed as a tool to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by improving education, public healthcare and state services, while creating opportunities for small businesses,” he said.
He stressed that developing countries must be co-creators of AI's future, rather than just consumers of foreign-built technologies.
To turn these principles into practice, Anutin announced that Thailand is ready to contribute through its AI Governance Practice Centre, which will serve as a sandbox for the public, private and academic sectors in which to test and implement international AI governance standards in real-world scenarios.
The Prime Minister concluded by stating that our choice today is not between innovation and regulation, but about building trusted progress.
He urged the international community to treat AI as a platform for global collaboration, rather than a new arena for geopolitical competition.
“This will allow the international community to work together to bridge disparities, expand cooperative spaces and promote rules for responsible innovation,” he concluded.
