Report flags gaps in Vietnam’s AI push in public sector
A report funded by UNDP and conducted by the Institute for Policy Studies and Media Development (IPS) found that 87% of AI-integrated public sector projects remain dormant, while 70% of surveyed businesses and organisations rated their AI efforts as minimally effective.
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Vietnam Patrick Haverman speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - There remain many gaps hindering the sustainable and effective development of artificial intelligence (AI) in the public sector despite growing adoption efꦓforts, according to a report ♎unveiled at a workshop in Hanoi on March 18.
The event was co-hosted by the Institute for Policy Studies and Media Development (IPS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam.
The report, funded by UNDP and conducted by IPS, found that 87% of AI-integrated public sector projects remain dormant, while 70% of surveyed businesses and organisations rated their AI efforts as minimally effective.
IPS Director Nguyen Quang Dong presented key insights from the report, which was compiled through over 30 interviews with representatives from central and local government agencies, AI businesses and experts to map the current landscape and chart policy paths forward.
Though challenges dominate, the report spotlighted successes: virtual assistants aiding public administration, facial recognition software for security, and smart traffic monitoring systems.
Participants in the event (Photo: VNA)
To bridge the identified gaps, delegates proposed bolstering digital technology capacity via investments in data systems and high-performance computing, ramping up AI workforce training, and crafting clear legal frameworks for accountability, risk management, and privacy protection. They also pushed for public-private partnerships to spur AI innovation, open data policies, streamlined data management, and robust computing hubs to power AI tools.
Government agencies should also focus on ethical AI and risk management, ensuring transparency, fairness, non-discrimination, and the protection of citizens' privacy, they said.
The workshop also delved into broader discussions on AI governance and ethics, government AI readiness, the global AI landscape, AI’s impact on Sustainable Development Goals, risks and rewards of implementation./.
Filum AI announced on March 18 that it had secured funding from regional prestigious investment funds, including Nextrans, VinVentures, and TheVentures, as well as strategic investors: Hung Tran (founder of Got It and AIforVietnam.org), Tran Anh Dung (founder of MOG) and other individual investors.
Resonant Augmenta is an original composition from Re.Imagine, Vietnam’s first-ever classical music concert integrating creative technology and interactive media.
The March 15 event in Singapore marked the first in a series of science and technology programmes designed for young Vietnamese and Vietnamese-Singaporeans in Singapore, aiming to equip them with knowledge about modern technology and essential digital skills for the new era.
As Vietnam’s digital transformation accelerates, both the frequency and severity of cyberattacks are growing. The National Cybersecurity Association (NCA) reported that in 2024 alone, there were some 659,000 separate cybersecurity incidents, impacting around 46.15% of government agencies and businesses.
A key highlight will be the technology cluster pavilion, showcasing top enterprises selected for their innovation, market potential, and practical applications. These firms will display flagship products and solutions, supported by government policies to strengthen the tech sector.
Since 2022, more than 500 Vietnamese startups have engaged in Google’s Startup Academy, Google for Startups Accelerator, and Google Startup Masterclass. Nearly 100 of these firms received support to develop and improve their products, benefiting more than 300,000 customers and creating over 300 new jobs through successful fundraising and team expansion amidst Vietnam’s competitive economy.
Over the past three decades, Binh Duong has cemented its status as one of Vietnam’s most dynamic industrial hubs, building a robust foundation in manufacturing, exports, and investment. The province now has 30 operational industrial parks spanning over 13,000 hectares, with an occupancy rate exceeding 90%.
The diplomat emphasised that Vietnam places the highest priority on the development of science, technology, and innovation, viewing them as critical drivers for the country’s advancement in the new development era.
The PM revealed Vietnam’s plan to develop nuclear power in the near future, and called on the Swedish side to assist Vietnam in developing and refining legal and policy frameworks for the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; training and developing human resources; ensuring nuclear safety; and conducting training and drills to improve incident management capabilities.
More than an art showcase, the second “Technology with heart” contest seeks to inspire innovation and spotlight the humanistic values that technology can bring into daily life, expected to contribute to a sustainable digital future.
The average speed of the national mobile broadband network remained stable, with download speeds reaching 76.86 Mbps and upload speeds reaching 26.98 Mbps.
Under the MoU, AMD will support several key initiatives spearheaded by HCM City’s authorities, including piloting policies, co-hosting innovation events, and evaluating the investment environment within the Saigon Hi-Tech Park.
The centre is a joint initiative between Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, with PTIT and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) serving as co-leads, and global telecommunications giant Nokia as founding industry partner.
The new centre, staffed by a team of scientists, researchers, and AI specialists working in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, forms part of Qualcomm’s global AI research group.
As a flagship initiative of the community project “Digital Literacy for All”, the programme forms part of a national scheme to equip 20 million young people with digital business skills.
The organisers hope the competition will help shape a generation of exceptional engineers who will make significant contributions to Vietnam’s scientific and technological progress in this era of transformation.
In the digital age and amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution, IP plays an increasingly critical role, not only in safeguarding inventions but also in reducing copyright infringement and curbing piracy.
Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu laid stress on the significance of the Hanoi Convention, particularly to the Asia – Pacific, to handling legal gaps in international cooperation against rapidly increasing global cybercrime.
The week features a rich lineup of activities, including a plenary conference on blockchain and AI development, thematic seminars on future technology trends and investment visions, applications of blockchain and AI in business, the Super Vietnam PitchFest, as well as forums for blockchain and AI.
According to the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, dated December 22, 2024, on making breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, this is considered a decisive factor in the development of nations. It is seen as a prerequisite and the best opportunity for Vietnam to become prosperous and powerful in the new era of the nation’s rise.
Vietnam’s demographic advantage, including a youthful population of 100 million in a “golden age”, further bolsters its ambitions. Its dynamic workforce, with a natural inclination toward science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), is a key asset in attracting private investment to innovation-driven sectors.
