The Thai Ministry of Industry recently announced the introduction of an artificial intelligence (AI) system to enhance the regulation of counterfeit and substandard products sold on online platforms. Pongpol Yodmuangcharoen, secretary to Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, stated on Wednesday that the ministry's Committee on Technology and Industrial Reform Innovation discussed this plan in a meeting on December 20.
The committee learned in its second meeting on December 20 that a study showed the ministry's AI system could monitor and detect 100,000 substandard consumer goods sold online each day, while human officials can currently only inspect 1,600 items daily. Pongpol explained that Arkhom established this committee to address the influx of cheap and low-quality products (mainly from China) in the Thai market.
Image Source Note: The image is AI-generated, licensed by service provider Midjourney.
The AI system will prioritize the detection of products related to consumer safety, such as power strips and crash helmets. The committee has decided to use AI to detect certain keywords and product images, comparing them with product prototypes and the databases of authorized distributors and ISO-certified products from the Ministry of Industry. Meanwhile, ministry staff will focus on verifying information and preparing legal documents against sellers of substandard products.
The introduction of this AI regulatory system marks a significant step for Thailand in combating counterfeit and substandard goods. Compared to manual inspections, the AI system can identify substandard products with greater efficiency and broader coverage, greatly improving regulatory efficiency and effectively protecting consumer rights.
This system not only identifies substandard goods but also helps the Ministry of Industry track and combat illegal sellers more effectively, thereby maintaining a fair competitive environment in the Thai market. In the future, the Thai Ministry of Industry may further expand the application of this AI system to include more products in its regulatory scope, providing consumers with a safer and more reliable shopping environment.
