Three Vietnamese startups and the race to bring humane and safe artificial intelligence to the world

From brain-assisted technology to artificial vision and retail chatbots, despite pursuing different directions, three Vietnamese startups share a vision: applying AI in a humane, safe and responsible way.

Mr. Ha Huy Khanh, production manager of Brain Life, introduces the wearable device developed by the company - Photo: DO QUANG

At Open Innovation Day - OID 2025 (held on October 25 and 26 at Quang Trung Software Park, Ho Chi Minh City), three startups Brain Life, Vizion and Easy AI brought solutions applying artificial intelligence (AI) to serve people more effectively.

Although they come from different starting points, what they have in common is that they all aim for safe, transparent technology for the benefit of the community.

Distraction detection and hazard warning device

Startup Brain Life delves into digital biotechnology, developing a head-worn device that enhances concentration by recording and analyzing brain waves.

The product measures neural signals, detects signs of distraction and sends warnings before accidents or operational errors occur. This is expected to be a particularly useful solution for drivers or workers in hazardous environments.

"In the test of Relaxation, Free Rest and Concentration states, we measured simultaneously on the same person using the Brain-Life device and compared it with EEG signals from the Natus machine used in clinical diagnosis" - MSc. Dr. Bui Diem Khue - University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Deputy Secretary General of the Vietnam Sleep Medicine Association

Not only does the device improve work performance, it also targets mental health. When it detects that the user is stressed, the app suggests listening to music, meditating, or using specialized sounds to help relax the brain. According to Mr. Ha Huy Khanh, production manager of Brain Life, "the device is non-invasive, only reading EEG data without any adverse effects."

According to Mr. Khanh, the reliability of the device has been verified by the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City, with results equivalent to the imported Natus medical device worth 60,000 USD.

Brain Life is aiming for ISO 13485 standard, preparing to commercialize in 2026 with a price of about 4 million VND. The further vision is to apply AI to this wearable device to predict depression, stroke, emotional disorders, paving the way for "made in Vietnam" mental health care technology.

AI that respects user data

If Brain Life wants to support the human brain, startup Vizion chooses to apply computer vision technology in the retail and logistics industry.

According to Huynh Trong Nghia, Vizion's Customer Account Manager, their software leverages computer vision to help retail chains better understand customer behavior.

Mr. Huynh Trong Nghia, Vizion's Customer Account Manager, said their AI system can decode shopping behavior - Photo: DO QUANG

The smart camera system simulates the movement route, viewing direction and stopping point of customers in the supermarket, helping businesses arrange products more effectively and detect abnormalities such as fraudulent behavior.

The strength of the solution that Vizion considers their "selling point" is the privacy protection solution: AI does not record faces but only saves skeleton mapping data.

Thanks to this, customer information is completely anonymous, in compliance with Decree 13 on personal data protection. The company also develops its own domestic AI core, operating independently on the customer's server to ensure information security.

With a “no upfront investment” business model, Vizion generates revenue through subscription fees or revenue sharing based on actual performance. The product is currently rolling out to Australian customers and is expected to expand domestically by mid-2026.

Ms. Nguyen Huynh Thao Ngan, content marketing specialist of Easy AI, introduces the chatbot that has been integrated and operates on Rang Dong company's web platform - Photo: DO QUANG

Different from Vizion's direction, Easy AI focuses on e-commerce with a chatbot system that automates sales and customer care.

The difference lies in the ability to standardize and personalize multi-channel data from Zalo, Shopee, website to store camera, helping AI respond accurately according to the content provided by the business.

Ms. Nguyen Huynh Thao Ngan, the company's content specialist, said that the chatbot developed by Easy AI can filter information, automatically identify complex questions to forward to employees. Easy AI has now been deployed for The Gioi Di Dong, Dien May Xanh and Rang Dong, becoming a tool to seamlessly connect humans and machines in the customer care environment.

From Brain Life to Vizion and Easy AI, Vietnamese startups are proving that AI is not just about artificial intelligence but also about the responsibility of those who create it. They are trying to develop the technology while building trust by meeting international standards for quality and data security.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ba-startup-viet-va-cuoc-dua-dua-tri-tue-nhan-tao-nhan-van-an-toan-ra-the-gioi-20251026142443767.htm