The Boston Global Forum recently introduced the book Artificial Intelligence Society at Harvard University, marking 30 years of Vietnam–U.S. diplomatic relations. Co-authored by Professor Thomas Patterson and Nguyen Anh Tuan, the book outlines AI-driven opportunities for Vietnam.

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Nguyen Anh Tuan at the book launch of “Artificial Intelligence Society”

Presented by the Harvard Faculty Club and the Boston Global Forum (BGF), the book launch coincided with the 2025 World Leader for Peace and Security Award ceremony honoring spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The event also celebrated the award’s 10th anniversary.

Artificial Intelligence Society: 30 Years of U.S.–Vietnam Partnership – From Nha Trang to Boston (1995–2025) is a collaborative work between Prof. Thomas Patterson (Harvard University) and Nguyen Anh Tuan (Co-founder, Co-chair and CEO of BGF, and former Editor-in-Chief of VietNamNet).

Published bilingually (Vietnamese–English) by Tri Thuc Publishing House, the 486-page, 30-chapter book offers a symbolic and vivid account of the Vietnam–U.S. relationship through the lenses of technology, peace, and innovation.

The book is divided into two main parts:

Part I: “Nguyen Anh Tuan – Experience and Creation” (15 chapters) adopts an autobiographical style, sharing the Vietnamese co-author’s reflections and initiatives, while highlighting emerging AI opportunities for Vietnam.

Part II: “Thomas Patterson – Love for Vietnam’s People and Culture” (15 chapters) presents the Harvard professor’s heartfelt and profound observations on Vietnam’s culture and development.

The birth of the AIWS model

At the heart of the book is the creation and evolution of the AI World Society (AIWS) model - a new social framework co-founded in 2017 by Governor Michael Dukakis and Nguyen Anh Tuan.

The book details the 20-year friendship between Patterson and Tuan, which ultimately inspired the AIWS initiative.

In his epilogue, Governor Dukakis writes: "Under Tuan’s inspiring leadership and far-sighted vision, BGF launched the AIWS initiative. It is truly special that I co-founded this pivotal effort with him..."

Professor Patterson adds: "My friend Tuan is a true visionary. This realization didn’t strike like lightning - it unfolded gradually through lived experience, keen observation, and above all, witnessing the growth of his early ideas into tangible efforts."

Nguyen Anh Tuan shared during the launch that AIWS is a "shared child of Vietnam and the United States." In the book, he writes that the initiative is a “harmonization of Vietnam’s best values with the methodologies and strategic thinking of Harvard University and Governor Dukakis, creating meaningful global contributions.”

Global impact and contributions from leading thinkers

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Nguyen Anh Tuan – Co-founder, Co-chair, and CEO of BGF, and former Editor-in-Chief of VietNamNet.

The pioneering vision of AIWS has drawn the participation of global thought leaders, including:

Top professors from MIT and Harvard such as Alex Pentland, Nazli Choucri, and David Silbersweig
Legendary figures in technology like Judea Pearl (father of causal reasoning in AI) and Vint Cerf (father of the Internet)

Policymakers and world leaders including Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, former Taiwanese Digital Minister Audrey Tang, and President of the Club de Madrid Vaira Vike-Freiberga

AIWS has been featured at key global platforms, such as the G20 Summit 2023 in India and the AI Action Summit in Paris (February 2025) hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Highlighting BGF’s role and Vietnam’s AI future

The book emphasizes BGF’s role as a “think-and-act” organization committed to peace and innovation, especially at the intersection of AI and global collaboration.

Ramu Damodaran, founder and first director of the United Nations Academic Impact Initiative, and former Editor-in-Chief of the United Nations Chronicle, currently a permanent observer for the University for Peace at the UN, described Nguyen Anh Tuan as a "global innovator in AI and enlightenment."

He wrote: "Under Tuan’s leadership, BGF has become a key force in addressing emerging global challenges."

Mark Kennedy, former U.S. Congressman and advisor to President George W. Bush, praised the book for shaping a new social model for humanity to strive toward.

The book opens new doors for Vietnam, especially through the concept of a 24/7 AI-powered government, proposed by Nguyen Anh Tuan and Governor Dukakis. The model envisions a transparent, efficient, citizen-focused government operating nonstop.

Furthermore, BGF’s initiatives on digital assets (AIWS-DASI), discussed in the book, offer a new path for Vietnam’s economy - encouraging entrepreneurs to create value and build global branding.

Artificial Intelligence Society is a significant contribution to global knowledge - a call to action, and a vivid testament to the Vietnam–U.S. partnership, laying a foundation for a safe and humane AI future.

Cau Toan