Stop Experimenting – This Is How Leading Companies in Are Making AI Work Strategically

Stop Experimenting – This Is How Leading Companies in Thailand Are Making AI Work Strategically

By Kristine Koed, Co-Founder, NovatioAsia 

AI is moving fast — but real value doesn’t come from jumping on trends or running pilots that never scale. The companies seeing results are those that treat AI as a core part of their business strategy, not as a tech add-on.Two key shifts are now shaping how leading companies across Thailand and Southeast Asia work with AI:

• A move from general-purpose large language models (LLMs) to small, focused language models (SLMs)
• A rise in agentic AI, where AI agents take real actions — not just suggest them

These changes demand a different kind of leadership. AI success now relies on clarity, governance, and strategic direction. That’s where the CIO steps in — not to experiment, but to lead.

Why Small Language Models Are Taking Over

SLMs are emerging as a smarter, more scalable solution for businesses in Thailand. Unlike LLMs, which are heavy, costly, and often too general, SLMs are faster, cheaper, and more secure — and they’re easier to align with your industry and organization. They can:

• Be trained on your internal data
• Run securely behind your firewall
• Deliver faster, more accurate outputs
• Lower operational and maintenance costs

Gartner predicts that by 2027, SLMs will be used three times more often than LLMs in enterprises. That’s because SLMs work — especially in sectors where cost, accuracy, and control matter most.

Agentic AI: AI That Acts

Agentic AI is already transforming operations in finance, logistics, healthcare, and manufacturing. These AI agents aren’t just tools — they perform tasks and trigger business workflows. Examples include:

• Drafting replies to client requests
• Sorting and routing service tickets automatically
• Running internal checks for compliance or finance
• Acting on incoming emails or data without waiting for human input

These tools are often built using low-code platforms by business users — which means CIOs must create clear frameworks for governance, integration, and value tracking.

The Role of the CIO Has Changed

It’s no longer enough to “oversee IT.”

Today’s CIO must:

• Translate AI into business outcomes
• Align AI with the executive agenda
• Guide directors across finance, operations, HR, and digital
• Secure board-level support and set governance standards

And in Thailand, where regional innovation is moving fast, this role is not optional — it’s essential.

This Is What NovatioAsia Delivers

At NovatioAsia, we don’t teach AI tools.

We advice and help executives to lead AI strategically — with a focus on practical business transformation, risk management, and C-level alignment. Our executive education program covers:

• How to select and apply SLMs in your industry
• Structuring governance around agentic AI
• Communicating AI direction to the board and internal stakeholders
• Building AI strategies that scale with business priorities

We operate across Thailand, ASEAN, and Denmark — bridging business, technology, and leadership.