At the recent East Tech West 2025 conference in Thailand, experts explored how open‐source AI and cloud computing can let nations build their own AI solutions. This is about creating ‘sovereign AI’ – a way for countries to manage their technology independently while addressing national priorities and security concerns.
Kasima Tharnpipitchai from SCB 10X pointed out a key challenge: most leading language models operate predominantly in English. As he put it, “The way you think, the way you interact with the world, and even the way you express yourself can change when you speak a different language.” His insights remind us that AI needs to speak the local language – both literally and culturally – to truly serve its people.
The ASEAN region, with nearly 700 million tech enthusiasts, stands out as a prime area for this shift. Jeff Johnson of Amazon Web Services explained that making cloud and AI technologies more accessible can unlock a wealth of local talent and new ideas. With open‐source models like DeepSeek and Llama offering flexible alternatives to proprietary systems, governments and businesses have more options than ever before.
Moreover, as Prem Pavan from Red Hat noted, the push for localised AI goes beyond language. It also calls for the development of local computing infrastructure. For countries like Thailand, partnerships with cloud giants such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Tencent Cloud – alongside local players like AIS Cloud – are crucial. Johnson highlighted that AWS’s pay‐as-you-go model lowers the entry barriers, making it easier for businesses to harness AI without a heavy initial investment.
A recent UN report suggests that AI could be worth up to $4.8 trillion by 2033, though at present a few nations are reaping most of the benefits. Moving forward, broadening shared AI infrastructure and embracing open‐source models could pave the way for more inclusive growth across the globe.
