Digital infrastructure and energy in the face of the AI ​​'wave'

(PLVN) - The explosion of artificial intelligence (AI) is opening up a strong investment trend in data centers and supercomputing infrastructure in Vietnam. However, along with the opportunity to develop the digital economy comes significant pressure on electricity, technology, institutions, and data security.

The major shift in global technology infrastructure.

On May 27th, at the seminar "The Impact of Energy Infrastructure on the Growth Rate of the Digital Economy " within the framework of the Vietnam - Asia DX Summit 2026 held in Hanoi, experts noted that AI is driving a major shift in global technology infrastructure. In particular, data centers and AI data centers are becoming the core foundation of the digital economy.

Mr. Nguyen Tu Quang, Chairman of BKAV Group, believes that data centers are no longer simply information technology infrastructure but have become "the infrastructure of digital infrastructure." Without early institutional preparation and long-term planning, countries will face significant pressure as AI develops at a very rapid pace. Mr. Quang shared that AI not only creates a leap forward in computing performance but also changes the way the digital economy operates. Many technology companies are now beginning to familiarize themselves with the concept of a "token economy"—an economy operating based on the number of tokens processed by AI systems.

From a local government perspective, Ms. Vo Thi Trung Trinh, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Digital Transformation Center, stated that the city aims for the digital economy to contribute approximately 30-40% of its GRDP in the coming period. To achieve this goal, Ho Chi Minh City must accelerate digital transformation throughout its entire government system as well as in socio-economic activities. Ho Chi Minh City's energy demand by 2030 is projected to reach approximately 16,000 MW – a very large figure given the accelerated investment in data center and AI data center projects. Currently, Ho Chi Minh City already has several large-scale data centers, such as CMC 's Data Center in the High-Tech Park with a capacity of approximately 120 MW, and Viettel's data center…

From the perspective of businesses deploying digital infrastructure, Mr. Dinh Tuan Phong - Deputy General Director of Vietnam Digital Investment Joint Stock Company (VDI) - assessed that investment in AI in Vietnam has been experiencing explosive growth recently. The biggest difference between traditional data centers and AI data centers lies in the enormous power demand of AI supercomputer systems. "A typical server can consume about 1,000 - 3,000W of electricity, but an AI supercomputer can consume up to 15,000 - 20,000W," Mr. Phong said.

Security and green energy requirements

According to Mr. Nguyen Tu Quang, safety and security are at the heart of AI development in Vietnam. He stated that Vietnam is gradually improving regulations towards "security by design," meaning security is designed from the outset in AI systems and data centers.

Mr. Quang also mentioned the "data room" model, in which algorithms are sent to data storage locations for processing instead of being taken outside. This is seen as an approach to enhance national data security in the age of AI. "Units can bring algorithms to data centers for processing, but the data must absolutely not be taken outside. That's how we protect personal data and ensure user trust," Mr. Quang emphasized.

From an energy sector perspective, experts believe that the development of AI is creating an urgent need to build a more sustainable energy model. According to Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, Deputy Head of the Power System Development Department at the Institute of Energy ( Ministry of Industry and Trade ), the demand for electricity for data centers and AI globally is increasing rapidly. The total global data center capacity has reached hundreds of GW and may continue to increase sharply in the next few years. Many previous power infrastructure plans were developed when AI was not as developed as it is now. Therefore, it is necessary to review power and digital infrastructure plans to meet new demands.

Mr. Nguyen Tu Quang believes that the AI ​​revolution can only develop sustainably when built on a "three-legged stool" consisting of pioneering institutions, energy-saving core technologies, and green energy infrastructure. In the context of Vietnam promoting the development of a digital economy based on science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation, AI is no longer just a matter for the technology sector but has become a strategic challenge for the entire economy.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/ha-tang-so-va-nang-luong-truc-lan-song-ai.html