Bangkok: Chaiyanok responded to criticism of the TH-AI Passport after its first day of use, insisting it's definitely better than the free version and urging the public to try it themselves. He revealed that the system will be accessible via the app within a week and emphasized that the government will not lose anything even if the registration target isn't met.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Chaiyanok Chidchob, Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DE), commented on the reception of TH-AI Passport, which launched today (August 31st), stating that he hadn't seen any further reactions yet, but during his field visits, many people reported having downloaded the app. Currently, it's a web-based application, with the mobile app expected to be available within the next week.

When asked about criticisms that the AI-Passport version used in the program is not as good as the free version, Mr. Chaiyanok retorted to the media, "You haven't used it yet, have you?" He added that he would like the public to download and try it themselves instead of just talking about criticisms. He affirmed that if it's not as good as the free version, it's definitely not true.

Currently, there are 1.3 million registered users, thanks to the Prime Minister's promotion. However, whether many or few people use it, the government and the public don't lose anything. The intention is to reduce inequality.

When asked whether the earlier target of 5 million registrations was not met due to insufficient public relations, Mr. Chaiyanok stated that they had made every effort to communicate effectively, as public relations are crucial. He emphasized that the switch to a pay-as-you-use model did not disadvantage the users, regardless of the number of users, thus eliminating any pressure. However, for those already using the free service and still hesitant about subscribing to a monthly plan, this project could help them decide which AI service to use.

When asked whether there would be a Phase 2 if the response was positive, Mr. Chaiyanok said that feedback doesn't always equal results. "We will definitely consider what happens in the next year. Even if the feedback is good, we can't say it will be the same project format because technology is changing rapidly. AI will change significantly in a year. But we affirm that we must promote it."

When asked whether the system's input in Thai in the TH-AI Passport platform was unstable and whether improvements would be made, Mr. Chaiyanok said that continuous development is necessary. "We will use non-personal data for learning, and we must develop and accelerate improvements to make it better and better," he said.