Naver Corporation partnered with Siam AI Cloud and Nvidia to develop Thailand’s first Thai-language large language model (LLM). Announced at the Nvidia Cloud Partner Summit in Taipei, the initiative promotes Southeast Asia’s digital sovereignty through localized AI development. The project aims to deliver culturally and linguistically relevant generative AI tools for Thailand’s public and private sectors to use. Planned for deployment by late 2025, the model signals a regional shift toward locally governed AI and strategic digital autonomy.
Thailand’s First Thai-language AI Model Targets Digital Sovereignty
On 23 May 2025, Naver Cloud announced a strategic partnership with Thailand’s SIAM.AI Cloud to co-develop a Thai-specific large language model (LLM) and launch an AI agent customised to the country’s tourism industry. The deal, struck during the NVIDIA Cloud Partner Summit in Taiwan, is a significant step forward for Naver’s efforts to push sovereign AI solutions in foreign markets. Naver Cloud CEO Kim Yu-won said in their official press release that,
This collaboration goes beyond simply establishing an LLM. Its core goal is to support Thailand in acquiring the technological capabilities and control to develop and operate AI models within the country. This will be able to provide a new direction for countries trying to build their own AI ecosystems. Going forward, we plan to accelerate our entry into the Southeast Asian market by cooperating with partners like Siam AI that can build sovereign AI locally, such as LLMs, infrastructure, and applications.
This partnership underscores Naver’s commitment to AI solutions that strengthen national digital autonomy through locally developed technologies. By combining Naver Cloud’s LLM expertise with SIAM.AI’s Thai-language data and GPU infrastructure, they plan to build a functional Thai-language LLM. The model, expected by year’s end, will support AI tools tailored for Thailand’s tourism sector and other industry-specific applications.
Moreover, SIAM.AI seeks to use this collaboration to accelerate sovereign AI adoption across Southeast Asia, enabling countries to build localized models aligned with national languages, values, and data policies. The alliance also targets broader applications in healthcare, education, and public services, with Naver Cloud offering end-to-end technical support.
Strengthening Global AI Collaborations
Naver Cloud and SIAM.AI Cloud signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a Thai-language LLM and tourism-focused AI agent. This partnership supports Naver’s broader sovereign AI strategy, which builds on its ongoing collaboration with U.S. chipmaker NVIDIA.
Signed at the NVIDIA Cloud Partner Summit in Taiwan, the collaboration merges Naver’s LLM expertise with SIAM.AI’s Thai language resources. Naver brings experience from models like HyperCLOVA X, while SIAM.AI contributes extensive Thai datasets and local GPU infrastructure. A functional Thai-language LLM is expected by late 2025, with plans to expand applications into healthcare, public services, and education.
The signing ceremony was attended by executives from Naver, SIAM.AI, and NVIDIA, including Naver Chairman Lee Hae-jin and Nvidia Asia-Pacific Head Raymond Teh. Naver also had strategic discussions with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang and Taiwan’s Chunghwa Telecom to discuss regional AI expansion.
Moreover, this initiative follows Naver’s launch of its Middle East operations in Saudi Arabia to develop a culturally relevant Arabic-language LLM. Naver reaffirmed its commitment to helping partner nations build, operate, and control autonomous AI ecosystems using full-stack local solutions.
Conclusion
The Naver–Siam AI–Nvidia collaboration marks Thailand’s emergence in the global AI arena and highlights Southeast Asia’s growing commitment to digital sovereignty. By developing sovereign, language-specific AI models, Thailand aims to lead in responsible, locally governed innovation. This initiative enhances key sectors like tourism, healthcare, and public services, while reflecting a broader regional shift toward multipolar AI development, balancing national control, innovation, and international cooperation in the evolving digital landscape.
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