Hanoi (VNA) 🔜– Although difficulties in terms ofcapital and human resources have been persistent, many Vietnamese businesses areinvesting in artificial intelligence (AI), showing the popular aspiration togain a foothold on the global tech map.

Bui Hai Hung, Director of VinAI Research underVingroup’s VinTech company, said the research institute is building a group ofleading AI experts, while giving advice and transferring technologicalknowledge to Vingroup and partners. Its studies focus on basic scientificissues related to AI, including machine learning; deep learning; and AIapplication in photo, video, language, voice, and users’ interaction analysis. Major enterprises like Viettel, FPT, and VNPTare also working to develop their own AI forces, with AI among the newtechnologies they are researching on to keep up with trends of Industry 4.0.These technologies include Internet of Things, big data, cloud computing, andself-driving cars. FPT has invested in AI platform research anddevelopment activities since 2013. In 2018, it became the first Vietnamesebusiness to own a comprehensive AI platform, named FPT.AI, which has already providedservices for several firms. In Vietnam, many programmes and researches havebeen carried out to promote the development and application of AI, affirmedTran Thi Thu Ha – Deputy Director of the National Agency for Science andTechnology Information under the Ministry of Science and Technology. Dao Thanh Binh, an expert from the AdvancedComputing Platform Group at Japan’s Rakuten Inc., said that governments,companies, and academies have been paying greater attention to AI with capital investedsoaring year by year.  He noted that AI is considered the mostimportant technology in digital transformation for sectors, organisations, andenterprises. It is predicted to contribute 15.7 trillion USD to the globaleconomy by 2030. In 2019, 40 percent of digital transformation initiatives willbe supported by AI. Vietnam has sufficient economic and humanresources, as well as opportunities to step up learning and developing AI-basedapplications to keep up with other countries, Binh said, adding that the nationshould attract skilled AI workers to develop the fields it holds strengths in. Prof. Ho Tu Bao, from the Vietnam Institute forAdvanced Study in Mathematics, suggested that Vietnam focus on promoting AI in fieldsit holds advantages like agriculture, healthcare, and education, noting that AIcan be developed in any areas that have data. Meanwhile, head of the AI research team at theAinovation company Ngo Quoc Hung proposed that Vietnam provide AI training for studentsin high schools and above.  He said it’s time now for Vietnam to build itsown AI centre and affirmed that if the country manages to build a strongcommunity of AI talents, it will definitely be successful in this field. –VNA