The National Innovation Center (NIC) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) joined forces with Google to organize a workshop on creating an AI future for Vietnam. 

According to Google, AI potential in Vietnam is great. The economic benefit of $79.3 billion would be equal to 12 percent of GDP by 2030.

To fully exploit AI potential, the AI Opportunity Agenda for Vietnam report pointed out that it is necessary to consolidate technical infrastructure serving AI-based innovations; build a workforce to apply AI, and increase the capability of accessing AI.

The report also analyzes the strategies to narrow the gap in digital knowledge and AI, helping Vietnam’s labor force to optimize AI use and promote economic growth. 

In order to fully exploit the potential, Vietnam needs to retain and develop domestic talents by expanding opportunities for people to access digital education and speed up training programs for businesses. 

Andrew Ure, senior director of Google Southeast Asia’s Government Relations and Public Policy, observed that the AI ​​economy in Southeast Asia is booming.

In Vietnam, Google estimated that Vietnam’s digital economy would reach $36 billion in merchandise value, an increase of 16 percent over the same period last year. The growth mostly comes from the recovery of e-commerce and online tourism.

He stressed that now is an important time as Vietnam has gained considerable progress by effectively using AI to accelerate economic growth and improve quality of life

“With a young, tech-savvy population and a dynamic digital landscape, Vietnam is well-positioned to tap into opportunities from AI,” he said.

In order to optimize economic benefits from AI, Vietnam needs to prioritize developing a digital workforce. The narrowing of the gap in digital skills through in-depth training and technology application will open up economic potential for the country.

Vietnam has emerged in the region as one of the leading countries in AI application. 

A survey by Thundermark Capita found that Vietnam and Singapore are the two Southeast Asian countries among the world’s Top 30 in AI research.

The report by Google shows that 87 percent of Vietnamese expressed optimism about the future of AI. Vietnam is also the country with the highest number of people supporting AI in Southeast Asia.

Trong Dat