On December 2, 2025, at the open innovation conference, UNDP released the Asia-Pacific regional human development report titled "The next great divergence - why artificial intelligence may deepen inequality between countries." The report emphasizes that the impact of AI on human well-being is not predetermined but depends entirely on choices regarding policy and governance.

Many Vietnamese worried about AI-driven job losses

Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam, noted that Vietnam clearly recognizes the urgency of the current moment. The country’s rapid digital transformation and ambitious national development vision place AI at the center of discussions about Vietnam’s future.

Vietnam aims to become a regional leader in AI by 2030, ranking among the top three in Southeast Asia. This ambition is reinforced by a dynamic AI startup ecosystem, which ranks second in ASEAN, behind only Singapore, in the number of AI startups and accounts for 27 percent of the bloc’s GenAI (generative AI) startup market share in 2024.

However, this growth opportunity comes with significant social pressure. According to Do Le Thu Ngoc, Head of Inclusive Growth under UNDP in Vietnam, AI’s impact is particularly severe for young people. AI is gradually replacing basic entry-level jobs commonly used by young workers to build their careers, such as administrative work, scheduling, drafting documents, translation, and research. This deprives youth of crucial early-career opportunities.

The report shows that Vietnam is among the countries with the highest percentage of people worried about job loss or job insecurity due to AI, at 61 percent. In contrast, countries like the Republic of Korea report much lower levels of concern, thanks to established reskilling strategies and measures to address occupational transitions.

At the macro level, countries heavily dependent on agriculture, textiles, or assembly work face major pressure. Job losses in these sectors cannot easily be shifted to others, as the traditional competitive advantage of low-cost labor is diminishing with the rise of AI-powered robotics.

Domestic businesses slow in adopting AI

Beyond workers’ concerns, the pace of AI adoption among Vietnamese businesses is also a significant challenge. Despite having a vibrant startup ecosystem, the readiness of enterprises to implement and leverage AI remains low, and is declining, from 27 percent in 2023 to 22 percent in 2024. Reports on GenAI adoption shows that 64 percent of businesses have either not applied generative AI or are uncertain about its use.

Though AI is expected to boost GDP by up to 2 percent by creating new jobs and industries, without adequate preparation in connectivity infrastructure, these benefits will be concentrated in urban areas, leaving rural communities and vulnerable groups behind.

Nonetheless, Ramla Khalidi affirmed that Vietnam is well-positioned to leverage AI for sustainable and inclusive growth if it continues addressing challenges such as digital skill gaps, data quality, and digital inclusion for women, rural communities, and vulnerable populations.

The government has demonstrated strong political will, implemented policies and investments to accelerate digital transformation and AI application in key sectors. The rapid development of digital infrastructure, including near-nationwide 4G coverage, ongoing 5G deployment, and significant improvement in Vietnam's global e-government ranking, is supporting this process.

To ensure that AI serves human development equitably, the UNDP report proposes a framework for action based on three core principles.

First, people-centered: placing technological innovation within the human development framework, prioritizing the expansion of human capabilities and unlocking human potential.

Second, responsible innovation governance: establishing clear, risk-based regulations and enhancing accountability to balance progress with the protection of ethics and privacy.

Third, building future-ready systems by investing strongly in local talent and sustainable infrastructure, ensuring that digital accessibility is treated as essential infrastructure.

Du Lam