“When ChatGPT created a boom around the globe, in August 2023, we completed research and announced an LLM (Large Language Model) in Vietnamese language, laying the foundation for the introduction of ViGPT, the first ChatGPT Vietnamese version for end users,” Prof Vu Ha Van from VinBigData said.

In December 2023, VinBigData put ViGPT app into operation for end users. At the same time, another version designed for businesses with in-depth professional knowledge integrated into the multi-cognitive AI platform VinBase 2.0 was also launched.

The product has important significance in terms of application, but also social significance as more and more people use ChatGPT and similar tools.

To gain the great achievement within a short time, Van, who is a Mathematics Professor at Yale University, said in the very early days of VinBigData, he and his co-workers determined that data is the core foundation in comprehensive digital transformation.

There are many AI-based products being deployed quietly. VinFast MirrorSense, the technology which automatically adjusts mirror using AI technology developed by VinAI, is an example. 

The technology received the Innovation Award Honoree for the Vehicle Technology and Solutions category Advanced mobility of CES 2024 (January 9-12, 2024) several days ago in the US, which marks a technological breakthrough of VinFast.

MirrorSense can accurately define driver's head position and eye gaze direction with an accuracy of 10mm, thereby automatically adjusting the positions of all mirrors. This is a groundbreaking combination of exclusive AI algorithms, visual and user-friendly design. MirrorSense has been trained with 25,000,000 images of 250,000 objects.

With the award, VinAI has added its name to the 2022 list of the best known AI research firms on the globe.

VinAI’s CEO Bui Hai Hung said the company has 150 works published during the most prestigious AI workshops in the world. VinAI connects the AI community in Vietnam and the world’s AI community via activities, including the annual AI Day.

The New York Times in an article published recently mentioned Alpha Geometry, the program developed by Google Deepmind which solves geometry questions like International Mathematics Olympiad attendees. And 75% of the engineers developing Alpha Geometry are Vietnamese working in the US.

Two years ago, amid the growing AI wave with many doubts, the government of Vietnam issued the National Strategy on Research, Development and Application of Artificial Intelligence by 2030, showing its strong determination to develop this field.

The strategy set ambitious goals: Vietnam will be among the top five leading countries in ASEAN and top 60 in the world in AI research, development and application. 

Vietnam wants to become an innovation hub, developing AI solutions and applications with the establishment of two AI national innovation centers, and increasing the number of startups in the field of AI.

The national innovation center in Hoa Lac , Hanoi was established with commitments for cooperation by the world’s leading technology giants.

The Government AI Readiness Index, the report implemented by Oxford Insights, shows that Vietnam’s AI Readiness Index ranks 5th out of 10 ASEAN countries, one grade  promotion compared with last year. Globally, Vietnam ranks 59th out of 193 countries/territories (it was 55th out of 181 countries/territories in 2022). This is the third consecutive year Vietnam’s position is above the average level of the world.

Oxford Insights calculates AI readiness index based on three pillars – government, technology, data and infrastructure accessibility.

Vietnam had 69.04 points for the first pillar– government (policies, laws and readiness to renovation), and 37.8 points for technology and 56.58 points for capability of accessing data and infrastructure.

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung, when discussing the implementation of tasks in 2024, stressed that 2024 will be the year when AI and virtual assistants will be applied intensively.

Some people fear that AI would become too clever one day and deprive people of jobs, or even control people. However, Thomas Patterson from Global Boston Forum said that people are excessively worried.

Lan Anh