My Vision

I believe that if Thailand wants to stand firmly in the age of AI and the digital economy, we must do more than simply “buy technology” from other countries.

We need to build three pillars at the same time:

1. A clear national strategy that defines how we will use AI and digital technology to build competitiveness and quality of life for our people.

2. Institutions and ecosystems including laws, tax regimes, infrastructure, data centers, education systems, and funding mechanisms that support Thai entrepreneurs and innovators.

3. Public spaces and societal conversation where people from all walks of life can take part in shaping Thailand’s digital future — rather than leaving critical decisions to a small circle of experts behind closed doors.

My work is therefore not limited to individual projects or organizations. I try to design each piece of work so that it contributes to a larger picture that moves the country forward.

Public Platforms & Audience

I use online platforms as a public space to talk about technology, the digital economy, AI, history, and religion — in language that is accessible, while still grounded in depth and references.

- YouTube – over 208,000 subscribers
- TikTok – over 147,000 followers
- Facebook – over 88,000 followers

My goal is not simply to showcase “what technology can do”,
but to invite Thai people to think about how we, as a country, position ourselves in this new world.

Current Roles

Executive Director, Digital Council of Thailand

As Executive Director of the Digital Council of Thailand (DCT),
I work with government, the private sector, and civil society to drive key issues such as:

- National digital infrastructure policy
- AI and data governance frameworks
- Development of startup and digital-entrepreneur ecosystems

Digital Policy and AI Advisor

advise and work with government agencies and various organizations on:

- Designing policies and tax measures to support the digital and startup sectors
- Laws and regulations related to digital infrastructure and the AI economy
- Mechanisms for stakeholder participation in public policy design
- Connecting Thai stakeholders with foreign governments, international organizations, and Big Tech through strategic partnerships and international matchmaking

Digital and AI Strategy Executive in the Private Sector

I work on digital and AI strategy for major corporations in Thailand, with a focus on:

- Connecting the macro picture of the economy and policy to real business constraints
- Designing roadmaps for digital and AI transformation
- Helping senior executives see both technology opportunities and structural market risks
- Supporting the creation of strategic partnerships with international players and acting as an international matchmaker between Thai corporations, global technology partners, and investors

Public Intellectual and Creator of Public Content

I use online platforms as a “public classroom” to make difficult topics understandable. My content covers:

- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the digital economy
- Public policy, economics, and the structure of economic power
- History, ideas, and religion — especially Buddhism

How I Can Help You / Your Organization

Government and Policymakers

- Strategic advisory on the digital economy and AI
- Co-design of policies, tax measures, and support mechanisms for the digital and startup sectors
- Designing legal and regulatory frameworks that balance protection of the public with space for innovation
- International matchmaking at the policy level – connecting Thai government agencies with foreign governments, international organizations, and global technology companies to exchange knowledge, sign MoUs, and design long-term joint initiatives

Businesses

- Designing digital and AI transformation strategies that fit real business structures
- Analyzing structural market risks when new technologies such as AI fundamentally change the game
- Advising C-suite executives on technology investment and AI infrastructure decisions
- International matchmaking for businesses – connecting Thai corporations with global technology partners, foreign investors, and key players in the global AI ecosystem, in ways that are aligned with the organization’s long-term strategy and Thailand’s context

Universities, Educational Institutions, and Event Organizers

- Keynotes, lectures, and panel discussions on AI, the digital economy, public policy, history, and religion
- Co-design of short courses or executive programs on digital and AI
- Bridging academic perspectives with real-world policy and business contexts so that students and participants can clearly see “the big picture of the digital and AI economy”

Media and Online Platforms

- Interviews and appearances as a public intellectual
- Structural analysis of AI and the digital economy, beyond short-term hype cycles
- Co-creating knowledge-based content that is widely accessible while still grounded in solid information and research

Key Policies and Projects

Capital Gains Tax Exemption for Thai Startups

I have been involved in designing and advocating for the capital gains tax exemption for investments in Thai startups, which is an important mechanism to:

- Encourage investment in domestic startups
- Increase the competitiveness of Thailand’s investment ecosystem in the region
- Send a clear policy signal that Thailand is serious about the digital economy

Digital Infrastructure and AI Policy Frameworks

Over the years, I have participated in:

- Drafting and reviewing laws and royal decrees related to the digital industry
- Designing conceptual frameworks for national digital and AI infrastructure
- Bridging perspectives from entrepreneurs, the private sector, academia, and government

International Collaboration and Matchmaking

In today’s digital and AI-driven world, the key question is not only “How capable can Thailand become?”

It is also: “How can Thailand connect itself to global networks without losing its long-term bargaining power?”

One of my core roles is international matchmaking and the design of strategic partnerships between:

- Thai government agencies
- Thai corporations and financial institutions
- Thai startups and entrepreneurs

and:

- Foreign investors
- Global technology partners (including AI and digital-infrastructure companies)
- International organizations and foreign regulators

My focus is not simply to “introduce people to each other,” but to think strategically about:

- What kind of partnerships strengthen Thailand’s position
- What kinds of agreements do not undermine our bargaining power in the long run
- And which joint projects create value both for Thailand and for our international counterparts

In many cases, I play a dual role:

- As a substantive advisor on policy, technology, and business
- And as a “designer of the negotiation table” — who talks to whom, in what sequence, and under what framing so that international matchmaking between Thailand and global partners can grow into real, long-term cooperation.

Education and Professional Background

Education

The University of Chicago
B.A. in Economics and B.S. in Computer Science
Full Scholarship

Carnegie Mellon University
M.S. in Information Networking
- U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Grant
Full Scholarship

Carnegie Mellon University
Ph.D. in Public Policy & Management
- Institute for Complex Engineered Systems (ICES)
- U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant
Full Scholarship

Professional Background (Summary)

- Executive Director, Digital Council of Thailand
- Senior executive in digital and AI strategy at major Thai corporations
- Technology startup founder and entrepreneur
- Advisor on digital policy, the digital economy, and AI to government agencies and organizations

About Atip Asvanund, Ph.D. (Short English Bio)

Atip Asvanund, Ph.D. is the Executive Director of the Digital Council of Thailand, and a public intellectual working at the intersection of technology, the digital economy, and public policy.

He advises government agencies, regulators, and large corporations on:

- AI strategy and digital transformation
- Digital infrastructure and data policy
- Tax and regulatory frameworks that support startup and innovation ecosystems

Atip has contributed to key policies such as capital gains tax exemptions for investments in Thai startups, aiming to make Thailand’s startup ecosystem more competitive in the region.

He also plays an international matchmaking role, connecting Thai policymakers, corporations, and startups with global technology partners, investors, and international organizations — with a focus on strategic alignment rather than one-off deals.

Beyond policy and corporate strategy, Atip runs popular social-media channels (YouTube, TikTok, Facebook) where he explains AI, the digital economy, history, and Buddhism in an accessible way to a broad Thai audience, combining rigorous research with clear, engaging storytelling.

Contact / Speaking & Advisory

If you would like to invite me to speak, join a panel,
or consult on AI, the digital economy, or public policy, you can contact me at:

Line ID: drjoke
WhatsApp: +66891299000

Please include your organization name, topic of interest, tentative date and time, and the format (lecture, workshop, policy consultation, etc.), so I can prepare in a way that best fits your context.