Transform the fear of being replaced into motivation to take risks.
For many years, AI was considered a closed, academic field where researchers built models in laboratories at enormous costs in terms of data and infrastructure. However, the emergence and explosion of Foundation Models and generative AI have changed how people approach AI. According to experts, AI is no longer the "privilege" of large technology corporations but is becoming a common tool, readily integrated into all products and services.
In this context, the concept of AI Engineering has emerged as a core competency for the new generation of engineers. AI Engineering is not just about building models, but encompasses the entire process of designing, deploying, operating, evaluating, and optimizing AI systems in real-world environments. The focus has shifted from "making models smarter" to "making products useful, sustainable, and relevant to humans."
During a presentation to FPT University students on the topic "AI Engineering - Artificial Intelligence in the New Era," speaker Chip Huyen, a technology engineer, Stanford University lecturer, and founder of an AI infrastructure startup in Silicon Valley, shared many inspiring stories.
One of the biggest questions many students – those on the verge of entering their careers – ask is the fear that AI will automate and replace humans. Speaker Chip Huyen affirmed that AI is and will replace a portion of human work. A clear example is the translation industry – which previously required millions of personnel, but now AI can handle a large portion of the workload at a much faster speed and lower cost. However, according to the female engineer, this is not a disaster but a law of technological evolution. She compared the rise of AI to the time when the steam engine or the automobile was invented, when professions associated with horse-drawn carriages gradually disappeared to make way for new professions. "Society cannot turn its back on progress just because of the fear of losing jobs, and AI is no different; it is an irreversible wave," speaker Chip Huyen said.
She emphasized the message: "The more fear there is, the more we must jump in and do it." According to the expert, only by venturing in, understanding how technology works, and comprehending its capabilities and limitations, can people escape a passive mindset and master the tool. A fundamental change analyzed by Chip Huyen is the shift in thinking from model to product.
Previously, to develop AI, businesses had to start with data, build models, and only then think about products – a costly endeavor reserved for large corporations. Today, the rise of platform models like GPT and Gemini has completely changed the landscape. Any individual or small team can start with a product idea, quickly create a prototype, and bring it to users.
Chip Huyen (third from the right), author of the book "AI Techniques: Building Applications with Platform Models," technology engineer, lecturer, and speaker, poses for a photo with young Vietnamese people.
According to the female expert in machine learning systems, when companies can all access similar models, the competitive advantage no longer lies in the model itself. What makes the difference is the product idea and data tied to a specific usage context. Chip Huyen used chatbots in Vietnam and the US as examples to illustrate this point.
While American users prefer text-based chatbots, in Vietnam, successful solutions often start with voice-based chatbots. This stems from an understanding of local user habits: frequent travel by motorbike makes typing inconvenient, and typing Vietnamese with diacritics is also slower. This shows that AI product ideas only truly shine when deeply rooted in specific needs and cultural and social characteristics.
Perseverance, in-depth learning , and creating real value.
From a business perspective, Nguyen Xuan Phong, AI Director ofFPT Software, agrees with the view that young people need to deeply engage with the industry. According to him, the essential tools for young Vietnamese people are not just technical knowledge, but more importantly, a new mindset: calmness in the face of change, courage to take risks, and the wisdom to choose the right path. The question is no longer "what will AI take away?", but "what can we create with AI?".
According to Phong, in a vast field like AI, perseverance and the ability to delve deep are crucial qualities that young people need to cultivate to master the technology. He reiterated the "10,000-hour rule" from the book "Outliers" and argued that to become truly skilled, one needs sufficient time and persistence, whether it's robotics, hardware, or software.
Speaker Chip Huyen warned against the misuse of AI for unnecessary tasks aimed at saving costs and reducing risks. She once refused to invest in a project using AI to detect abnormal heart rhythms in hospitals, because this problem could be solved much more efficiently and cost-effectively using basic statistical algorithms.
Phong himself has dedicated over 15 years to AI, progressing from basic machine learning algorithms to today's complex systems, leading hundreds of global AI projects. According to him, with limited resources, young Vietnamese people need to choose the right path and persevere, rather than blindly following trends.
Le Thanh Hung, administrator of the "People Learning AI" community, emphasized the spirit of self-learning. He believes that with the motto "be 1% better every day," persistent accumulation combined with AI tools can enable individuals to make leaps forward, not only in skills but also in career opportunities.
According to Hung, AI must be popularized so that it doesn't become the privilege of a small group. Currently, the "AI for the People" community is being built on a "those who know teach those who don't" model so that AI becomes a common skill for everyone.
Source: https://doanthanhnien.vn/chi-tiet/thay-vi-so-hai-hay-lam-chu-ai-55032
