Vietnam makes efforts to promote responsible AI development

With the goal of turning AI into an important technology field in Vietnam, in January 2021, the Prime Minister issued the National Strategy on Research, Development and Application of AI until 2030, with an aim of making Vietnam a centre for innovation and the development of AI solutions and applications in the ASEAN region by 2030.

After three years of implementing the strategy, Vietnam has achieved initial results, rising to the 59th position out of 193 countries, and the 5th position out of the 10 ASEAN countries in the Government AI Readiness Index from Oxford Insights in 2023.

However, the rapid AI growth has also posed many challenges in management, especially those related to cybersecurity, the protection of personal information, intellectual property protection, and the determination of legal responsibilities of stakeholders related to AI.

At the Vietnam Artificial Intelligence Day 2024 (AI4VN 2024), head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Tran Luu Quang affirmed that Vietnam always takes the interest of the nation, society and people as the centre of AI development and application. Vietnam will absolutely not abuse technology to infringe upon these legitimate rights and interests, he stressed.

Currently, many organisations and countries around the world have made efforts to develop a legal and ethical framework to manage, control and promote responsible AI. It can be said that the world is relatively unified on the basic principles of responsible AI, which affirm that AI must be for humans, not harmful to humans; AI must ensure that it performs as intended; it must be safe and secure, fair and equitable, and transparent and explainable, and protect personal data and copyrights.

Over the years, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) as well as relevant ministries and sectors have worked hard to perfect the legal corridor and implement practical mechanisms and policies to facilitate the development of AI in Vietnam and develop AI responsibly.

MoST Deputy Minister Bui The Duy said that ethics and responsibility in AI lie at all stages, from algorithm development, data collection, to training tools and applications. Therefore, this issue must be taken into account right from the system development stage, involving many ministries and sectors. In addition, ensuring personal data security, respecting copyright, intellectual property rights, improving labour productivity while protecting the environment and social security are also considered important matters.

In June, 2024, the MoST issued Decision No. 1290/QD-BKHCN on a number of principles on research and development of responsible AI systems towards a human-cantered society where everyone enjoys the benefits of AI systems, ensuring a reasonable balance between the benefits and risks of the systems.

Accordingly, the nine principles for research and development of responsible AI systems and guidelines for implementation are spirit of cooperation, promoting innovation; transparency; controllability; safety; security; privacy; respect for human rights and dignity; user support; and accountability.

The decision is the first document in Vietnam that sets out general principles in the research and development of responsible AI systems.

Duy said that these principles and guidelines will continue to be researched and updated to suit practical situations./.