Bangkok: "Attawich" suggests adjusting the TH-AI Passport contract so the government only pays for the amount citizens use. Attawich Suwannaphakdee, an MP from the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party, recommended a revision of the 1.6 billion baht TH-AI Passport project by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE). The project aims to provide access to AI tools for 5 million citizens. He emphasized transitioning to a pay-per-active user model, contrasting the current fixed-rate subscription that risks financial loss if users abandon the service.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Atthawich advocated for a monthly usage-based fee structure, suggesting no payment should occur if the system remains unused. He urged that if the private sector trusts the system's quality, they should adjust contracts to benefit the public. He also suggested collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) to involve over 200,000 first-year university students in the project's pilot phase. This would allow them to engage with AI models from leading global companies, enhancing educational and research opportunities.

Mr. Atthawich highlighted that while the market rate for advanced AI access is approximately 2,000 baht monthly, the project proposes a cost of 27 baht per user monthly. He noted that the educational use by students over a semester could equate to a market value of 1.6 billion baht, justifying the budget. He also encouraged the private company awarded the contract to focus on the depth of AI application rather than the number of users, citing research and content creation as key project values.

He concluded by urging the winning bidder to prioritize quality and consider a dynamic payment model over an annual lease, fostering confidence in the project's success.