Vietnam to Announce Updated National AI Strategy and First AI Law

Vietnam issued its first AI Strategy in 2021. However, as a field that changes rapidly and makes breakthroughs every day, AI requires policies to be continuously adjusted and supplemented. Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung said that by the end of 2025, Vietnam will announce an updated version of the National AI Strategy along with the first AI Law.

"This is not only a legal framework, but also a declaration of national vision. AI must become the country's intellectual infrastructure, serving the people, developing sustainably and enhancing national competitiveness," the Minister emphasized at the Scientific Workshop: "Unlimited power and unpredictable challenges of AI - Impact and policy response" on September 15, in Hanoi.

Overview of the Workshop.

AI must become the country's "intellectual infrastructure", a new pillar of development.

Accordingly, AI is no longer a mere applied technology but is becoming a type of national infrastructure, similar to electricity, telecommunications or the Internet. Vietnam needs to own its own "AI intelligence infrastructure", including a national supercomputing center and a shared open AI data warehouse. The goal is to popularize AI as we popularized English, with every Vietnamese person having a personal digital assistant. The Minister said: "When AI is rapidly and deeply popularized, every Vietnamese person has a digital assistant, our social intelligence will at least double, even if the population remains unchanged."

The Minister affirmed his commitment to developing AI based on open standards and open source code - both to master technology and to contribute to humanity. "Open" is a strategy: open to develop, open to learn, open so that Vietnam can "Make in Vietnam" and affirm its technological prowess in the international arena.

Raising the question "How can Vietnamese AI enterprises not remain small forever?", the Minister pointed out that the prerequisite is to form a large enough domestic market, where AI is strongly applied in state agencies, enterprises and key areas. Only when there is a large enough market, will enterprises have the opportunity to grow.

The Minister said that the Government will increase spending on AI in the coming time. The National Technology Innovation Fund (NATIF) will allocate at least 40% of its budget to support AI application projects, especially prioritizing vouchers for domestic small and medium enterprises to use AI technology solutions developed in Vietnam. This will be a boost to form and nurture a domestic AI ecosystem.

Minister Nguyen Manh Hung said the National Technology Innovation Fund (NATIF) will allocate at least 40%

budget to support AI application projects.

Vietnam has many advantages to make a breakthrough in this field: a population of nearly 100 million people, young, dynamic, and tech-savvy; a rich data ecosystem; a creative "Make in VietNam" startup and digital enterprise community; and an enthusiastic research force. In particular, the consistent direction from the Party and State, considering AI as an important foundational technology, is a solid foundation for mobilizing all resources;

AI is for humans, not replacing humans, but an assistant to support humans". In that spirit, Vietnam will issue a National Code of Ethics on AI, in harmony with international standards but suitable for Vietnamese practice.

Along with that is the development of the AI ​​Law and an update of the National AI Strategy, based on six core perspectives: risk-based management; transparency and accountability; human-centered; developing domestic autonomous AI; considering AI as a driver of rapid and sustainable growth; and finally protecting digital sovereignty , in which data, infrastructure and AI technology are the three strategic pillars.

Vietnam AI Manifesto: Humanity - Safety - Autonomy - Cooperation - Inclusion - Sustainability

The Minister affirmed the "Vietnam AI Manifesto" with the spirit: Humanity - Safety - Autonomy - Cooperation - Inclusion - Sustainability; at the same time, emphasizing that the AI ​​era requires "and" thinking instead of "or" thinking: global and local, cooperation and autonomy, Big Tech and Startup, technology and application, open and secure, big AI and small AI. This is a development mindset that is harmonized, balanced, non-exclusive, and non-extremist. Vietnam's AI development will be based on four pillars: transparent, ethical institutions; modern, sovereign infrastructure; high-quality human resources; and humane AI culture. In which, "AI culture" is considered a special highlight: If not associated with humane values, AI can become a tool to erode social trust, instead of serving people.

The minister warned that AI's power could surpass nuclear power, making the problems it creates more serious than those of atomic bombs. However, he said that AI and AI's problems are twins, existing and transforming each other. AI's challenges can be solved by AI itself - from training human resources, monitoring systems to detecting ethical violations. This is a new model of self-regulation, in which problems and solutions are "two sides of the same coin".

Delegates attending the workshop.

Affirming the strategic vision, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung said: "AI is a great opportunity for Vietnam to rise to become a developed country with high income, standing shoulder to shoulder with the world's powers". Countries that have "turned into dragons and tigers" have all known how to take advantage of the opportunities of industrial revolutions. Vietnam once missed out because of war, but now, in the context of a peaceful country, with an economy in the world's top 32, and a high average income, we have all the conditions to not miss out again. Focusing all resources to "AI-ize Vietnam" will help double social intelligence, increase labor productivity, create double-digit economic growth, improve governance capacity and protect the Fatherland.

In conclusion, the Minister emphasized: "AI is a powerful tool, but humans are the ultimate decision makers. Let AI support, not replace human thinking, values ​​and responsibilities. AI must be an assistant, helping to free up labor so that humans can focus on creativity and more valuable work." This is not only a technological orientation, but also a humane reminder: Technology is only truly meaningful when it puts humans at the center.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/viet-nam-sap-cong-bo-ban-cap-nhat-chien-luoc-ai-quoc-gia-va-luat-ai-dau-tien-197250915155221269.htm