OpenAI, Gates Foundation host disaster-response AI jam in Bangkok

This workshop is part of OpenAI's broader push to embed AI into practical government and nonprofit operations, following the expansion of its OpenAI for Countries Program announced at Davos. The focus is on moving from general interest in AI to field-ready tools that address the fragmented data and manual processes common in disaster response. The choice of Bangkok and the regional participation reflect Asia's heightened exposure to climate-related disasters, which account for the majority of people affected globally.

The surge in ChatGPT usage during recent cyclones in Sri Lanka and Thailand suggests that people already turn to AI for information during crises, creating an opportunity to integrate such tools more directly into official response workflows. The workshop's practical approach—building reusable GPTs—aims to lower the barrier for teams with limited technical infrastructure.

The follow-up phase, which will focus on pilot deployments and deeper collaboration, will likely test whether the tools created can function reliably in real emergencies. For OpenAI and its partners, success depends not just on the technology but on building institutional trust and ensuring accessibility, as underscored by the Thai government representative's remarks that the most powerful AI must be the most accessible.