AI human resources and the risk of a two-tiered economy

(Dan Tri) - Behind the promising numbers are many challenges, an AI economy at risk of being divided into two layers and a "thirst" for high-quality human resources.

Vietnam is strongly applying AI despite many challenges (Photo: ST).

Notably, the problem of retaining talent is not just about salary.

Vietnam is pushing the development of artificial intelligence (AI) at an astonishing rate, recording a 39% growth in enterprise applications over the same period.

This is the information in the study "Unlocking Vietnam's AI Potential" recently published by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Strand Partners.

Accordingly, nearly 170,000 Vietnamese enterprises (accounting for 18%) have deployed AI, bringing tangible economic benefits: 61% recorded an average increase in revenue of 16% and 58% expected to save 20% of costs.

Contrasting picture

Despite the strong wave of applications, the depth of AI implementation tells a different story. Up to 74% of businesses still stop at basic applications such as improving operational efficiency.

This difference creates a deep gap between business groups.

Meanwhile, 35% of agile startups are using AI to create completely new products and services; the figure for large enterprises, despite having more resources, is only 11%.

This is creating a “two-tiered” AI economic model that could have long-term impacts on the country’s economic development, warned Nick Bonstow, director of Strand Partners.

Looking only at adoption rates can lead us to overlook the deeper challenges many businesses are facing."

Mr. Eric Yeo, General Director, AWS Vietnam (Photo: PV).

However, the appeal of AI is undeniable. Explaining the rapid growth rate, Mr. Nick said that the benefits from AI come very quickly: "This is not the type of technology that businesses have to wait 15 years to see the effectiveness."

Bottleneck

The biggest barrier holding back Vietnam’s potential is its people. 55% of businesses consider the lack of skilled human resources as the number one obstacle. The gap between supply and demand is so large that many companies are willing to pay up to 40% more in salary to recruit AI talent.

Responding to the press, Mr. Emmanuel Pillai, Director of Training and Certification (AWS ASEAN) said that the deeper problem is the shortage of human resource supply: "The bigger message here is how do we ensure that individuals who want to upgrade their skills can access training programs."

Accordingly, with a young, talented team, the company is willing to pay a worthy salary: "But paying salary is one thing, we also have to create a culture and environment with many incentives and challenges so that you can grow more," Mr. Nguyen Le Truc Giang, Director of G-Asia Pacific Vietnam, shared.

He said that the industries that are most "thirsty" for human resources are finance, banking and manufacturing, most of which operate on old systems, making the transition to new technology difficult.

To overcome the challenges, experts agree that a comprehensive solution is needed, requiring the joint efforts of both the government and the private sector.

On the government side, the Ministry of Science and Technology 's consideration of AI as national intellectual infrastructure is considered a truly correct step.

Mr. Eric Yeo, General Director of AWS Vietnam, commented: "This will create the right message for businesses. If the government pioneers the application, businesses will feel more confident."

On the side of technology providers, the "three-pronged" strategy in training is being promoted, including free provision, localization and constant updating to keep up with the rapid pace of technology change.

Ultimately, there is no acceleration without a secure foundation. Eric Yeo warns: “It is absolutely critical that cybersecurity is at the core of AI adoption. You can’t just try to use AI to generate benefits and forget all about security.”

Vietnam is at a critical juncture. The potential of AI is enormous, but to turn that potential into reality, a concerted effort is needed to bridge the skills gap, promote real innovation, and build a safe and responsible AI ecosystem.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/cong-nghe/nguon-nhan-luc-ai-va-nguy-co-kinh-te-hai-tang-20250918210351187.htm