The AI Connect II Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop between April 22-24, 2024, hosted jointly by GTC, US State Department Bureau of Cybersecurity and Digital Policy (CDP), and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, with support from the US Embassy Hanoi and US Consulate Ho Chi Minh City, featured 44 participants from 14 countries including Bangladesh, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
The Ho Chi Minh City workshop was held at a pivotal moment in advancing responsible AI development and policy across South and Southeast Asia and provided a unique platform for networking and collaboration among international policymakers, practitioners, academics, and private sector representatives committed to shaping the future of AI.
Attendees included selected participants in the AI Connect II program from South and Southeast Asia, high-level regional representatives from global and local tech companies, government, and regional institutions. Participants gathered in Ho Chi Minh City to engage in robust discussions, hear from globally renowned experts, and explore case studies and best practices relevant to the region.
The first regional workshop of AI Connect II was inaugurated with keynote speeches by Anne Benjaminson, Acting Consul General, US Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City, US Department of State, and Bui The Duy, Deputy Minister, Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology. The Acting Consul General and the Deputy Minister both spoke of the value of deeper cooperation on AI governance, given the importance of the technology in furthering sustainable development and prosperity for the US, Vietnam and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
Professor Bui Thu Lam, Vice President, Vietnam Club of Faculties – Institutes – School – Universities of ICT helped further set the stage by detailing Vietnam’s ambitious National Strategy on R&D and AI Applications.
The workshop convened panels featuring the AI Connect cohort, including senior leaders from regional digital economy and IT ministries, startup-focused organizations like the Startup Vietnam Foundation, and public policy directors of major tech companies based in the region. Panelists discussed the role of the ASEAN Guide for AI Governance and Ethics and next steps for implementation, and the role Asian powers play in AI governance in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. They also tackled foundational questions: How can countries leverage open AI models, standards, and data to bolster national AI capabilities? How should governments, academia and industry collaborate to responsibly advance AI research?
Participants also had the opportunity to share their insights on overlooked trends in AI, as well as use cases from their own work, including applications of AI in cancer and diabetes detection, as well as perspectives from policymakers implementing national ICT strategies for equitable digital transformation.
The workshop also included a site visit to Vietnam National University’s University of Information Technology Ho Chi Minh City, with presentations from their AI programs, and interaction with students.
The workshop was covered extensively across local and national media outlets, including Vietnam.vn, Dang Cong San, Dantri International News, and Vietnam National University’s website.
For more information on AI Connect, visit the main AI Connect page.