Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, and Thailand's Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa), have unveiled the "Eye for Thailand" program, a nationwide AI-powered marketing challenge designed to showcase the creative potential of AI-generated video content. The program was announced at the "AI for Thailand" event hosted by Alibaba Cloud in Bangkok, marking the latest collaboration between the two organizations to drive innovation and digital talent development in Thailand. The initiative is bolstered by partnerships with the Thai Programmer Association, and True IDC, who bring their expertise and networks to support the program.
The competition invites developers, marketers, designers, students, and enterprises across Thailand to leverage Alibaba's latest video generation model, the Wan2.1 series, the latest iteration of its video foundation model Tongyi Wanxiang (Wan), to create engaging and innovative short-form videos. Participants will be provided with a theme, collaboratively developed by Alibaba Cloud and depa, to inspire and structure their video creations.
The competition aims to bridge AI and creativity, empowering participants to drive innovation in Thailand's digital advertising industry while expanding their professional and academic opportunities. Participants will have the chance to create AI-powered videos, showcase their work on a global stage, compete for prizes, and industry exposure, and gain recognition from experts in AI, marketing, and business.
Dr. Warin Ratchananusorn, Director of Digital Startup Institute, part of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) said, "The 'Eye for Thailand' program is a transformative initiative that highlights the power of AI applications and innovations in unlocking creative potential. By leveraging Alibaba Cloud's advanced video generation AI technology, we are empowering participants to explore new frontiers in digital storytelling while equipping them with future-ready skills. As a key agency driving Thailand's digital transformation, depa prioritizes talent development, innovation, and the creation of opportunities within the digital economy. This program aligns with our shared commitment to nurturing digital talent—fostering a new generation of innovators who will advance Thailand's leadership in AI and the global digital economy."
Sean Yuan, Vice President of International Business and General Manager of Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, and South Pacific Region at Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, shared, "The program reflects our commitment to empowering Thailand's digital economy through cutting-edge AI and cloud technologies. By combining creativity and innovation, we aim to inspire a new generation of digital talent and drive transformative growth in the region."
A panel of judges, featuring representatives from Alibaba Cloud, depa, and industry experts, will assess submissions based on criteria such as creativity, AI utilization, storytelling, and branding relevance. Final scores will be determined through a combination of public voting and expert judge evaluations. The competition timeline kicks off with a launch event on May 9, followed by a submission window from May 10 to June 2. Judging will take place in early June with the top 10 finalists unveiled on June 11. Public voting will occur from Jun 11 to 19, followed by the culminating Demo Day, where winners will be announced.
Unveiled earlier this year, the Wan2.1 series was the first video generation model to support text effects in both English and Chinese. It is top of the VBench leaderboard, a comprehensive benchmark suite for video generative models.
Pioneering digital workforce programs in Thailand
The "Eye for Thailand" program builds on the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Alibaba Cloud and depa, which established a strategic partnership to advance digital talent development in Thailand. A key outcome of this collaboration is the launch of a publicly accessible e-learning portal, designed to offer Alibaba Cloud's cloud computing courses in the Thai language for the first time.
As part of the agreement, Alibaba Cloud's training programs will be officially registered with depa, and its cloud products will be featured in the Thai Digital Catalog—a centralized platform for government-approved digital products and services. This recognition will pave the way for broader adoption of advanced cloud technologies in both the public and private sectors in Thailand. Additionally, Alibaba Cloud will collaborate with depa to promote digital skills in regional areas, offer student internship opportunities, and support local startup initiatives.