FishAI app in hot water over poor performance

14 Sept 16:03 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's FishAI app faces intense scrutiny over its limited functionality, identifying only 52 fish species despite a 9.1-million-baht budget and claims of a 2,000+ species database.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Watcharaphol Khaokham has demanded an explanation from the Fisheries Department chief regarding the app's transparency, cost-effectiveness, and the selection of a private developer with a history of numerous departmental contracts.
Concerns also include the decision to build a new system rather than utilizing existing, more cost-effective global API technologies, with a fact-finding committee threatened if irregularities are found.

Government to start building Chainat-Pasak-Gulf water diversion canal next year

Today 14:58 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's government will launch the "Chainat-Pasak-Gulf" water diversion canal project in fiscal year 2027, a seven-year mega-infrastructure initiative.
This permanent structural solution aims to mitigate recurrent central plains flooding by diverting water from the Chao Phraya River directly into the Gulf of Thailand, significantly reducing flow to major cities like Ayutthaya and Bangkok.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul justifies the long-term investment as a means to reduce future damages and fiscal burdens, contrasting it with the 40-50 billion baht spent annually on short-term flood relief.
Concurrently, the Prime Minister instructed officials to expand drainage capacity into the Tha Chin River and swiftly remove water hyacinths to improve immediate flood management.