THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC SERVICE: GOVERNMENT POLICY IN THE DIGITAL AGE

Abstract

This article analyzed the future of Thailand's public service amid the significant transition to the digital era. The objectives were to synthesize key trends and policies driving public service transformation in Thailand, to review the evolution of digital government from Government 2.0 to Government 4.0, and to propose a new conceptual framework of human-centric digital public service. The synthesis indicated that the Thai public sector needs to transition from traditional bureaucracies to a smart, agile, and accessible digital government through several mechanisms: integrating services on a single platform (Government as a Platform); applying artificial intelligence (AI) and big data to deliver hyper-personalized services; building digital trust through blockchain technology and cybersecurity reinforcement; and promoting citizen participation in policy and service co-design. International lessons from Estonia, Singapore, and Denmark confirmed that successful digital public service required the integration of technology, regulation, and citizen engagement. The author proposed that the future of Thai public service lay in creating a smart, responsive, and citizen-focused government, driven by innovation and human-centric technology, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life and steering Thai society toward true sustainability in the digital age