#Robotics

The Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC) in Orlando highlighted a global challenge: making computer science accessible to every student and educator. With more than 9,000 participants, experts discussed how block-based programming can level the field for young learners and non-expert teachers. For Thailand, where digital transformation is accelerating, these insights resonate with efforts to bridge urban–rural gaps in classrooms.

Computer science education is becoming essential worldwide, shaping both economies and daily life through digital literacy. In Thailand, the government’s long-range Strategic Plan aims to overhaul curricula so students acquire future-ready skills. Yet barriers remain, including language, teacher training, and infrastructure, especially outside big cities. Data from Thailand’s education sector shows ongoing gaps in resource distribution and access.

The Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC) in Orlando this year spotlighted one of the most pressing challenges in global education: making computer science accessible for every student and teacher. With more than 9,000 participants from around the world, experts at the event—including the director of computer science education for an international robotics firm—discussed how tools like block-based programming are leveling the playing field for young learners and non-expert educators alike. For Thailand, where the push for digital transformation is accelerating, these developments resonate strongly with efforts to bridge digital divides across urban and rural classrooms.

Amazon’s latest step in warehouse automation has reignited a critical discussion about the future of human work in an era increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence (AI) and robots. The unveiling of the company’s “Vulcan” robot — capable of “feeling” and performing complex tasks — not only signals Amazon’s ambition to automate physically demanding warehouse duties, but also offers a rare and telling glimpse into the new kinds of jobs that may emerge as AI reshapes the labour market. For Thai workers and businesses, this development holds significant lessons as the Kingdom seeks to navigate its own technological transformation.

Amazon’s introduction of the Vulcan robot is accelerating a global debate about how humans will work alongside AI and machines. The device is designed to handle physically demanding tasks while also supporting new roles in maintenance and oversight. For Thai workers and businesses, the story offers a blueprint for navigating automation while safeguarding livelihoods.

The company says Vulcan can reduce repetitive and ergonomically risky work, such as reaching high shelves or constant bending. Alongside this, Amazon announced retraining programs to help staff acquire skills in robotics maintenance and related fields. Company figures note that robots now fulfill a large share of order fulfillment tasks and have spurred the creation of new job categories like robotic floor monitors and onsite reliability maintenance engineers. The World Economic Forum has suggested that while AI and automation may displace millions of jobs globally, they could also generate substantial new opportunities.

A wave of educational innovation is making coding more accessible for Thai students and teachers. At the 2025 Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC) in Orlando, experts discussed block-based programming and a teaching shift that could narrow Thailand’s digital divide and inspire future coders.

Global recognition of computer science as a core future skill highlights a common hurdle for Thai classrooms: English-based coding languages, limited resources, and a shortage of trained teachers. Block-based programming lets learners snap together visual blocks to create programs, bypassing complex syntax. A senior leader in computer science education notes that block-based tools support learning in students’ local languages and reduce language barriers. When traditional languages like Pascal, C++, or Python are used, much of the coding environment relies on English; block-based approaches can enable Thai, Malay, or other languages, helping students say, “I can program,” much sooner.