The aspiration to 'democratize AI' for Vietnamese people.

VTC News•01/09/2024

(VTC News) - Dr. Nguyen Xuan Phong has always been passionate about popularizing AI among the Vietnamese people. He was honored by the Hanoi Youth Union as one of the 10 outstanding young people of Hanoi in 2023.

Wherever you go, lead the way.

Nguyen Xuan Phong, born in 1989, Director of Artificial Intelligence atFPT Software, is one of 100 young intellectuals participating in the Vietnam Innovation Network. He serves as a representative linking the Mila research institute (Quebec AI Center in Montreal, Canada) with FPT Group to build a world-leading AI research center in Quy Nhon (Binh Dinh).

Previously, he was renowned for "leading the way wherever he went." At the age of 9, Phong won first prize in the National Creative Software Competition. From then on, Phong's academic path at Hanoi - Amsterdam High School was always associated with awards in computer science competitions. After graduating from high school, Phong went to Singapore to study Business Administration at Coventry University. His access to an education that constantly demanded critical thinking and the expression of personal opinions helped him not only mature daily but also equip him with a solid foundation of knowledge in information technology, economics , and business administration. Leaving Singapore, Phong went on to earn a Master of Science in Information Technology from Carnegie Mellon University (USA) and completed his PhD in Applied Artificial Intelligence at the University of Tokyo.

The aspiration to 'democratize AI' for Vietnamese people - Part 1

Dr. Nguyen Xuan Phong shared his insights on AI with young people.

Having experienced life studying and working in many countries, Nguyen Xuan Phong decided to settle in Japan because he loved the people and culture there. After completing his internship at Hitachi Corporation (Japan), Phong was offered a position and became one of the top 50 scientists at Hitachi Corporation at the age of 24. At the Research and Development Center, considered the brain of Hitachi Corporation, Phong participated in a project analyzing collected data to create technology that solves problems related to transportation and infrastructure, targeting developing countries, including Vietnam. Furthermore, he researched and created new artificial intelligence algorithms for various industries within the corporation and applied these optimal strategies to areas such as intelligent transportation, water treatment plant automation, smart supermarkets, autonomous robots, ATM management automation, etc. With 7 patents, he was invited by Tokyo Tech to become the Director of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Science department, and Phong has always been admired for his talent. After 8 years working at the world-leading corporation Hitachi, Nguyen Xuan Phong felt it was time to choose a new direction for his career. The young scientist wanted to contribute to Vietnam and wanted his research to have a more profound impact on business, creating truly useful products for the market. Therefore, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Phong decided to return to his home country. There were many options, but the young scientist found FPT Software to be the most suitable environment, always supportive of new ideas and products, ideal for nurturing talent and potential projects. Therefore, he joined FPT Group as Director of Artificial Intelligence at FPT Software, while also serving as a visiting research expert at the Mila Institute. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Phong simultaneously focuses on AI research with leading professors and experts worldwide at Mila, and manages FPT Software, developing the AI product research department to serve FPT's global clients. Despite juggling these two important roles, Dr. Phong consistently maintains his leading position wherever he goes.

The desire to "democratize AI"

As a talented researcher, Dr. Phong always aspires to impart his knowledge to the younger generation. Therefore, despite his busy schedule, he still makes time to participate in seminars and share his experiences with young people in schools across the country.

According to him, the field of AI is very suitable for young people who are passionate about computers or want to learn about the evolution and development of humankind.

AI is the tool that will help Vietnam develop and compete with the world, creating a difference in the future.

Dr. Nguyen Xuan Phong

When we hear the term "Artificial Intelligence - AI," we often associate it with a complex field, reserved only for engineers and scientists. However, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Phong holds a different view: " High school students can absolutely learn the basics of AI in a simple and easy way ." With this mindset, Dr. Phong and a few friends opened a small school in Tokyo, Japan, teaching artificial intelligence and data sense to all ages. " The school has up to 60% high school students. The youngest is only 12 years old, in 7th grade ," he said. " When students know something, they will love it. Therefore, I want to give them the understanding and confidence to approach artificial intelligence. In the US, when students are introduced to artificial intelligence at the university level, if they already know it, they learn very quickly, their teachers are more enthusiastic, and they become highly regarded by the school and society, " Dr. Phong shared. Not only is Dr. Phong popularizing artificial intelligence in Japan, but he is also ready to participate in workshops and projects to bring AI technology to Vietnamese youth, as that is his dream. " During a talk with students at Le Hong Phong High School (Ho Chi Minh City) about artificial intelligence, I shared the story of a high school girl who accompanied me while I spoke at a Rank A scientific conference on artificial intelligence. This proves that students can achieve seemingly difficult things if they think positively, have a good teacher, and are diligent. I hope to be invited to many similar talks in the future and at many schools across Vietnam, " Dr. Nguyen Xuan Phong recounted. Dr. Phong also provided simple examples so that students could clearly visualize and understand artificial intelligence. " Every child in Vietnam knows Doraemon the robot cat, so everyone finds it very interesting. What Doraemon could do in the past, most of us can do today. We must create a love for it in young people to make them enjoy this subject ," Dr. Phong shared. He plans to write a popular science book on artificial intelligence to increase public awareness of this field and create vlogs to provide people with more information channels. " If we provide knowledge in language that is close to everyday life, people will surely accept it ." Wherever he appears, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Phong's sharing is a source of inspiration for young people interested in artificial intelligence and AI.

The aspiration to 'democratize AI' for Vietnamese people - 3

Dr. Nguyen Xuan Phong poses for a photo with his son.

Born and raised in Vietnam, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Phong, an artificial intelligence researcher, is committed to doing his utmost to bring AI technology closer to more people in the country. His time at the Mila Institute has allowed him to update his knowledge, connect with research groups in Vietnam, and share and disseminate the latest global knowledge on AI, helping Vietnam catch up with the world's development in this field.