SCBX's Vision: From Applied Intelligence to AI Sovereignty

At the Techsauce Global Summit 2025, the critical challenge of achieving AI Sovereignty was a central theme. In one of the most anticipated sessions, Dr. Arak Sutivong, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of SCBX, painted a picture of a future where AI is not just a tool, but a high-stakes bet that could determine the fate of people, organizations, and entire countries.

SCBX and the ‘AI-First Organization’ Vision

Dr. Arak began by reinforcing SCBX's vision to become a fully-fledged ‘AI-First Organization’, defined by the following ambitious goals:

• 75% of revenue must come from AI-enabled businesses.
• 75% of processes must be automated or enhanced by AI.
• 100% of employees must have basic AI literacy.
• 15% of employees must be high-level AI talents.

Many companies probably feel the same way—we've conducted countless small experiments, but they haven't created the massive impact we expected. We're no different. We've moved past the phase of small-scale trials. Now is the time to consolidate what we've learned and concentrate our resources on the points that will generate a monumental impact.

The Birth of an AI-Native Bank: A New Breed of Virtual Bank

One of the flagship projects that best reflects this vision is the planned establishment of a Virtual Bank by SCBX. Dr. Arak revealed that it won’t just be a traditional bank shrunk into a mobile app, but a true AI-Native Bank.

The mobile banking we use today still feels like a bank's internal process, forcing us to click through multiple steps to do simple things. Our new bank will think from the customer's perspective first. AI will make everything completely different.

He explained that instead of overhauling legacy systems, building a new bank that is born with AI from day one is a core policy to avoid creating future technical debt for the organization.

Overcoming Two Major Hurdles: Legacy Systems and People

For an organization with a 118-year history like SCB, the biggest challenges aren't technological but rather its legacy systems and people—a struggle many established companies face.

“We have to accept that some systems will have to be left as they are, and we'll use AI to 'wrap' them for necessary functions. But for new systems and platforms, they must be AI-Native, no exceptions,” Dr. Arak explained, outlining their technology strategy.

As for the human challenge, SCBX is choosing to leave no one behind. The company is actively rolling out programs to provide foundational AI knowledge to all employees—covering safety, practical use, and responsibility. This runs parallel to building a team of experts who can create their own AI, not just use it.

AI: Not an Option, but a Path to Survival

Dr. Arak emphasized that AI is not a distant concept but something that directly impacts everyone on three critical levels:

1. Individual Level: “If you lack AI skills, you are at a real risk of being replaced in the future. This isn't meant to cause anxiety; it's the reality.”
2. Company Level: “If an organization cannot compete with AI-driven offerings, it risks being disrupted, whether by existing competitors or new players.”
3. National Level: “If a country lacks AI Sovereignty, it risks limited economic growth and jeopardizes national security.”

Sovereign AI: A National Agenda Thailand Must Start Today

Dr. Arak emphasized that Sovereign AI is crucial for Thailand's future. He drew a comparison with China, which took 20-30 years to transform itself from a nation with no tech companies into a global leader because its government made a firm decision to become self-reliant.

We have to ask ourselves: if a geopolitical crisis occurs one day, can Thailand stand on its own? Are we too dependent on foreign technology?

Dr. Arak concluded with a startling fact: Thailand's entire national Research & Development (R&D) budget is less than the R&D budget of a single U.S. tech giant. This, he said, reflects the scale of the challenge and the urgency with which Thailand must act.

Based on the session: “From Intelligence to Impact: Human - Business - Economy” session at Techsauce Global Summit 2025.