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Latest technology news, trends, and startup insights from Thailand and Southeast Asia.

Thailand's Data Center Industry Poised for Explosive Growth as Global Tech Giants Invest Heavily

Thailand’s data center industry is entering a period of unprecedented growth, fueled by surging demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure, cloud computing services, and large-scale digital transformation across industries. According to recent forecasts, the sector is expected to grow by nearly 14 times between 2023 and 2028, attracting more than 320 billion baht in investment. Major international tech companies including Microsoft, Google, TikTok, CtrlS, NEXTDC, and China-based Beijing Haoyang have announced plans to invest in or expand their data center operations within Thailand. These firms are responding to Southeast Asia’s rising need for robust digital infrastructure and Thailand’s increasingly favorable regulatory and energy environment. A report from Krungthai COMPASS noted that Thailand is becoming a strategic hub for regional data storage and processing, thanks in part to its central geographic location and ongoing improvements in energy efficiency and internet connec...

Foodpanda to Exit Thailand by May 23, 2025

Food delivery platform foodpanda will officially shut down its operations in Thailand on May 23, 2025, according to an announcement by parent company Delivery Hero. The company said the decision is part of a broader strategic shift aimed at concentrating on markets with stronger long-term growth potential. Delivery Hero, based in Germany, has operated foodpanda in Thailand for over a decade. The app was one of the earliest players in the country’s online food delivery space and played a key role in shaping consumer habits, especially during the pandemic when demand for delivery services surged. The company has not disclosed the exact number of employees, riders, or restaurant partners who will be affected, but said it will work to ensure a smooth transition and support for those impacted. Users have been advised to complete all pending orders and use any available promotions before the May cutoff date. Despite the exit, Delivery Hero confirmed that its regional team based in Thailan...

AI-Powered Translation Gains Traction Across Southeast Asia

AI-powered translation tools are gaining ground across Southeast Asia as governments, startups, and global tech firms push to eliminate language barriers in one of the world’s most linguistically diverse regions. From real-time voice translation to localized content generation, the region is becoming a testing ground for next-generation natural language processing technologies. Major players such as Google, Microsoft, and Baidu are advancing support for languages like Thai, Bahasa Indonesia, Tagalog, and Vietnamese within their platforms. Google’s latest Gemini AI update, for example, includes enhanced multilingual capabilities trained specifically on Southeast Asian syntax and idioms, reducing the cultural inaccuracies that have plagued earlier systems. Meanwhile, local startups are moving fast to serve niche markets. Bangkok-based LinguaLocal has partnered with Thailand’s tourism board to deploy real-time translation kiosks at airports and tourist hotspots. In Vietnam, EduTalk AI i...

Cross-Border Payment Innovations Unveiled at Money20/20 Asia

A wave of cross-border payment innovations took center stage this week at Money20/20 Asia, highlighting a new era of faster, cheaper, and more transparent international transactions. The annual fintech event, held in Bangkok for the first time, brought together financial leaders, central banks, and payment providers from across the globe. Among the key announcements was the launch of several real-time payment network integrations across Asia-Pacific, aiming to streamline remittance corridors between countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The Bank of Thailand and Bank Negara Malaysia jointly introduced enhancements to their QR code-based cross-border payment link, now allowing real-time B2B transactions in addition to P2P. SWIFT also showcased its latest pilot programs leveraging CBDCs and tokenized assets to facilitate cross-border settlements. The organization said its system has now connected with more than 30 central banks experimenting with digital curren...

Thai Tech Sector Prepares for Impact of New US AI Chip Export Rules

Thailand’s technology sector is bracing for the effects of new United States export restrictions on advanced AI chips, which are set to take effect on May 15. The new regulations are part of Washington’s broader effort to control the global flow of high-performance computing power amid growing concerns over national security and geopolitical tensions, particularly with China. The rules classify countries into three tiers and impose limits on the computing power of AI chips that can be exported to each group. Thailand, while not directly targeted, will still feel the ripple effects due to its growing role in the regional tech and data infrastructure landscape. Thailand is increasingly viewed as an alternative to Malaysia for hosting regional data centers. With top-tier countries reaching capacity, Thailand’s position as a Tier 2 nation with available infrastructure is becoming more attractive to international companies. However, the new US regulations could introduce uncertainty for c...

Thailand Unveils AI-Powered Police Robot for Public Safety

Thailand has introduced its first AI-powered police robot, named AI Police Cyborg 1.0, during the annual Songkran festival in Nakhon Pathom. This move signals a new chapter in the country’s approach to public safety, blending artificial intelligence with real-time surveillance to support human officers. The robot, developed under a collaboration between Thai law enforcement and local tech partners, is designed to monitor large crowds and assist police during major events. It is equipped with AI-driven cameras that provide 360-degree surveillance and can detect potentially dangerous behavior such as fights or theft. One of the key features of AI Police Cyborg 1.0 is its facial recognition system, which is capable of identifying individuals flagged in criminal databases. If the system detects someone considered a threat, it automatically alerts nearby officers through a centralized Command and Control Center. The robot is also programmed to distinguish between real weapons and harmless...