THAILAND – Sigve Brekke, CEO of True Corporation, issued a stark warning at the forum “Thailand Economic Outlook 2026: Out of the Trap”: artificial intelligence is both a huge opportunity and a “silent trap,” and Thailand risks being consumed by it unless companies and the government act immediately.
AI as a double-edged sword
Brekke painted a grim picture for organizations that underestimate the AI revolution. “AI is both an opportunity and a trap. If an organisation hesitates to start, it will one day find that it is too late to catch up with competitors,” he said, underscoring the urgent need for rapid adoption and adaptation.
Speed and scale: a new benchmark
The True CEO highlighted the breathtaking speed of change: ChatGPT reached 100 million users in only two months, compared with seven years for the internet to hit the same milestone. That velocity, Brekke said, creates both enormous potential and heightened risk for laggards.
Infrastructure without transformation
Despite strong technical foundations — 5G coverage for more than 99% of the population — Brekke criticised Thailand’s cautious use of new technologies. “If 5G is used only for faster internet and not for transforming industry and services, Thailand will be a technology consumer rather than an innovation creator,” he warned. He noted that although 75% of Thai internet users engage with AI, this activity is largely at the consumer level, leaving a broad structural gap in businesses and public institutions.
Labour-market upheaval and the skills gap
Brekke warned of profound social consequences: worldwide, 92 million jobs will be displaced while 170 million new roles will emerge. The problem, he said, is that these new jobs will require specialised digital and data skills. “Lifelong learning and continuous upskilling will become vital,” the digital expert asserted.
Algorithmic polarisation and social risk
Beyond economics, Brekke highlighted a social danger he calls “algorithmic polarisation”: social platforms that show users only what they already want to see, creating narrow information ecosystems that deepen social divisions. Addressing this requires governance as much as technology.
Policy prescriptions: governance, data, acceleration
Brekke called for a comprehensive AI governance framework, improved data management and a national data storage policy. He urged the government to shift from being a regulator to becoming an accelerator of the digital economy, enabling faster, safer and more inclusive adoption.
A three-point survival code for companies
Brekke presented a “Digital Survival Code” for Thai businesses:
– Act boldly: make decisions even with incomplete information.
– Stay adaptable: continuously adjust to changing circumstances.
– Align together: unite the whole organisation behind common priorities.
“In the AI era, delay is not just a missed opportunity but defeat before the game even begins,” Brekke concluded, delivering a stark ultimatum.
Thailand, he said, stands at a crossroads: it can become an AI leader or an AI victim. The clock is ticking. (Source: The Nation)