According to a study on Vietnam's digital economy by Google, the annual economic impact of digital technologies in Vietnam could reach VND 1,733 trillion (approximately USD 74 billion) by 2030. AI is expected to make a significant contribution to various sectors within the digital economy.

"Vietnam is in a unique position to lead AI innovation in Southeast Asia and beyond," stated Nguyen Duc Toan, Country Director of Google Cloud, at the 2024 Generative AI Conference recently held in Ho Chi Minh City.

In terms of human resources, Vietnam boasts a young and talented workforce, a major advantage in AI development. "With over 70% of the population under 35 years old and an increasing university graduation rate, Vietnam has the potential to train and attract top AI talent," a Google representative shared. Additionally, with approximately 80 million Internet users under the age of 30, Vietnam is seen as a fertile and promising market for AI products and applications.

At the conference, speakers agreed that Vietnam has many advantages in developing AI, thanks to its market, human resources, and startup ecosystem.

Regarding the ecosystem, statistics show that Vietnam attracted over USD 1 billion in investment in tech startups in 2023. The rapid growth of the startup ecosystem has reached a maturity level comparable to that of Singapore and Malaysia, demonstrating the potential for innovation and the ability to create breakthrough AI solutions.

Vietnam’s market is receiving significant support from the government and domestic technology corporations to "catch the AI wave." Vietnam is expected to need an additional 100,000 AI specialists in the next five years to meet market demand.

From a personal perspective, Dr. Le Viet Quoc, a senior expert from Google, remarked, "The Vietnamese government has been implementing numerous policies to encourage startups and investment in technology. This creates favorable conditions for AI enterprises to develop and compete on the international stage."

Dr. Vu Duy Thuc, who earned his Ph.D. in AI from Stanford University and is the Founder of OhmniLabs, highlighted that Vietnam has a significant advantage in terms of human resources in the AI field. He noted that many Vietnamese professionals hold important positions in major global corporations.

Vietnam has a strong educational tradition, particularly in mathematics and science. Vietnamese students frequently achieve high rankings in international mathematics competitions, showcasing their logical thinking and problem-solving skills—key abilities needed for AI development. This foundation is crucial for creating a high-quality workforce for the AI industry.

Despite its potential, Vietnam faces challenges in building AI infrastructure and attracting talent, especially in mathematics and science. To address this, experts at the 2024 Generative AI Conference suggested that Vietnam should promote collaboration between universities, businesses, and the government to build a robust AI ecosystem.

Leveraging and advancing these advantages, realizing potential, and fostering collaboration between the government, businesses, and educational institutions to support tech startups are essential conditions for Vietnam to become a prominent player on the global AI map.

Trong Dat