Google invests $1bn in Thailand to build data center, boosting AI and cloud growth in Asia

Google's $1 billion investment in Thailand will establish a new data centre and expand cloud and AI infrastructure

Google announced on Monday that it will invest 36 billion Thai baht, or $1 billion, to establish a new data center in Thailand and expand the country’s cloud infrastructure. This move signals a significant step in Google's push to strengthen its presence in Asia, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) at a time when competition with rivals like Microsoft and OpenAI is growing.

The new data center, set to be located in Chonburi, eastern Thailand, will be Google's first in the country. It is expected to meet the increasing demand for Google Cloud services and AI innovations, as well as support popular Google platforms like Search, Maps, and Workspace.

In an official blog post, Jackie Wang, Google’s country lead for Thailand, highlighted that the investment will not only enhance infrastructure but also unlock new opportunities for Thai businesses, educators, and citizens. "As AI transforms industries, it is more important than ever to educate and upskill Thais to use this technology," she said.

Thailand’s digital economy is the second-largest in Southeast Asia and is projected to reach $50 billion by 2025, according to a 2023 report by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company. This makes Thailand a key market for Google’s ongoing expansion, particularly in the fields of AI and cloud computing.

While Google remains a leader in global search engine technology, the company faces increasing competition from generative AI tools such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT. These AI-driven platforms, based on transformer models pioneered by Google, are reshaping the tech landscape, prompting Google to ramp up its investment in AI.

In addition to its focus on AI innovation, Google has been battling legal challenges, including a recent antitrust lawsuit filed against Microsoft. The lawsuit accuses Microsoft of using its dominance in the cloud computing sector to stifle competition.

With its $1 billion investment in Thailand, Google aims to secure a stronger foothold in Asia’s rapidly growing digital economy while continuing its fight to remain a leader in AI and cloud services.