Minister Nguyen Manh Hung: AI goes in a 'narrow corridor' to serve humans

The head of the science and technology industry believes that AI develops when many factors are balanced and must be guided with wisdom and responsibility.

Developing artificial intelligence in a "narrow corridor"

Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Science and Technology, emphasized the need to orient the development of artificial intelligence with intelligence and responsibility so that artificial intelligence can truly serve humans.

“Artificial intelligence is walking in a narrow corridor. Walking in that narrow corridor is the art of balance, between global and local, cooperation and sovereignty , large technology corporations and startups, technology and application, use and mastery, innovation and control, infrastructure” , Minister Nguyen Manh Hung affirmed.

Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung. (Photo: Nguyen Trung)

At the Ministerial Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence Governance held on the morning of October 27, sharing Vietnam's vision, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung said that Vietnam believes that sustainable AI development needs to be built on four main pillars: strong AI institutions, modern AI infrastructure, AI talent and a human-centered AI culture.

Vietnam is also committed to developing AI that is human-oriented, open, safe, sovereign, collaborative, inclusive and sustainable. In particular, developing an open-source AI ecosystem to enhance transparency, cooperation and innovation.

Ministerial Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence Governance. (Photo: Nguyen Trung)

The open-source AI ecosystem will help small countries and startups to develop and master cutting-edge technology together.

Mr. Jonathan Baker, Chief Representative of UNESCO Office in Vietnam, said that Vietnam has a favorable environment for developing artificial intelligence - evidenced by the main results from the Readiness Assessment Report (RAM) on AI in Vietnam.

The report is part of UNESCO's recommendations on AI ethics, designed to help countries assess their AI capabilities and development orientations across five dimensions: legal, social, educational, economic and infrastructure.

The report notes Vietnam's remarkable progress in legal, economic, research and education fields.

Launching ceremony of the Artificial Intelligence Ethics Readiness Assessment Report (RAM). (Photo: Nguyen Trung)

However, in addition to the achievements, Mr. Jonathan Baker also pointed out the challenges and gaps that need to be addressed. Especially the shortage of highly skilled AI human resources.

“Access to Vietnam’s STEM industries remains limited for women, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities. There is still room to close the gender gap in AI and digital in general,” said Mr. Baker.

UNESCO makes a series of strategic recommendations on AI development in Vietnam, such as strengthening the legal framework to more deeply integrate AI ethical principles and establishing a National AI Ethics Committee to ensure effective monitoring and coordination.

In terms of human resources, it is necessary to promote public awareness of AI ethics, and attract and develop AI talent with both technical and ethical capabilities. In terms of technology, the report recommends establishing centers of excellence in strategic technology and continuing to invest in large-scale data centers.

Mr. Jonathan Baker, Chief Representative of UNESCO Office in Vietnam. (Photo: Nguyen Trung)

Finally, Mr. Jonathan Baker emphasized the importance of building an innovative and ethical AI startup ecosystem, through promoting private investment, supporting startups, especially those led by women and minorities.

Enhancing human capacity in data source control is key

Moderating the panel discussion "Shaping contributions to global artificial intelligence governance", Ms. Pauline Tamesis, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, commented: "The development and application of AI will continue to make Vietnam one of the pioneering countries in artificial intelligence in the world" .

Burundi is putting AI at the center of its national development strategy, said Ms. Inarukundo Francine, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, expressing her desire to further deepen cooperation with Vietnam. Burundi is especially eager to cooperate with Vietnam in sharing expertise, transferring technology, training young talents and jointly establishing innovation labs.

At the conference, international delegates shared many lessons learned and recommendations in the process of developing and applying AI technology. Mr. Julien Guerrier, Ambassador of the European Union to Vietnam, said that the EU's AI strategy is built on three pillars: Excellence, Trust and International Cooperation.

The EU’s approach aims to boost research and industrial capacity while ensuring a legal framework for responsible AI development. “The EU also focuses on addressing the risks associated with generative AI,” said Julien.

Ms. Pauline Tamesis, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Vietnam (far right) and Mr. Julien Guerrier, Ambassador of the European Union to Vietnam (second from right) attended the discussion session. (Photo: Nguyen Trung)

The Australian Ambassador to Vietnam shared that from August 2024, all Australian federal agencies will be required to appoint an official responsible for AI and publish a transparency statement when using this technology.

According to him, two important lessons learned from real-world experience are that human oversight is always essential (even with the best systems) and that AI regulations need to be consistent to avoid over-regulation.

Mr. Philipp Agathonos, Ambassador of Austria to Vietnam, warned that many AI systems currently use poor quality data, blurring the line between real and fake. According to him, improving human capacity in controlling data sources is a key factor to ensure the reliability of AI.

He expressed concern about the monopoly of high-quality chips, calling on countries to coordinate to balance the supply chain, avoiding chip production falling into the hands of a few businesses.

The week showcased many advanced technology products and software applying artificial intelligence. (Photo: Nguyen Trung)

From October 27 to 29, Vietnam International Digital Week 2025 (VIDW 2025) took place in Ninh Binh and Hanoi. The event was chaired by the Ministry of Science and Technology in coordination with the People's Committee of Ninh Binh province.

This year's event highlights strategies, policies and legal frameworks to ensure the development and governance of AI in a safe, transparent and responsible manner.

Hong Anh

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