Don't rush legal reforms for AI development: expert

The doctor made the remarks during the "Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence" workshop, which was held by the British Embassy as part of Vietnam Artificial Intelligence Day (AI4VN 2023) on Thursday.

Numerous domestic and international experts, scientists, and young people interested in technology attended the event.

Duong Anh Duc, Vice Chairman of the HCMC People's Committee, opened the event by pointing to the current context.

Artificial intelligence has received significant attention and investment from countries, organizations, and businesses, he said, adding that many well-developed and practically-applied products have attracted the attention of the community.

"Artificial intelligence products demonstrate their potential and ability to make significant contributions to socioeconomic development," said Duc. "But this also poses a number of challenges, one of which is the effective use of artificial intelligence responsibly."

Duong Anh Duc, Vice Chairman of the HCMC People's Committee, speaks at the AI4VN 2023 on September 21, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Responsible AI use is not a choice but rather "a duty of the community of developers, technology implementers, and users," he added.

The topic is being hotly debated in countries around the world, where the EU and several governments initially developed or issued regulations and tools for properly managing artificial intelligence.

"HCMC aims to be one of Vietnam's and the region's major centers for artificial intelligence application research, deployment, and transfer. The city has one of the greatest rates of artificial intelligence development in the ASEAN region," Duc said.

As a result, the vice chairman said he appreciated the access to expert experiences, exchanges, and sharing that the city and event supply.

Also speaking at the event, Emily Hamblin, British Consul-General in HCMC, discussed advantages and risks related to AI, as well as international cooperation between the U.K. and Vietnam.

Emily Hamblin, British Consul-General in HCMC, speaks at the AI4VN 2023 on September 21, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

According to Hamblin, today's AI technology has advanced at a rapid pace, creating opportunities for various professions across the world.

AI has been utilized in medical research to discover new medications to fight bacteria, to help teachers in teaching, to resolve repetitious exercises, and to solve problems more efficiently, she said.

Hamblin said she feels that it is critical to ensure that technology advances. "If we can ensure safety, fair responsibility will help us."

The AI4VN 2023 workshop attracted hundreds of AI enthusiasts on September 21, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Following the opening remarks, the speakers delivered in-depth discussions. The first speaker was Assoc. Bui Thu Lam, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the Club of Faculties, Institutes, and School of Information Technology and Communications (FISU), who delivered an overview presentation on advances in artificial intelligence in Vietnam.

He said that current approaches to artificial intelligence include responsible AI, ethical AI, and generative AI.

The world is experiencing rapid growth; currently, 70 countries are engaged in AI. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, a national policy on artificial intelligence was released in 2021.

Bui Thu Lam, Vice Chairman and Secretary General, FISU, speaks at the AI4VN 2023 on September 21, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Of its approximately 100 million people, Vietnam had roughly 78 million Internet users, and 70 million social network users by January 2023, which is a huge figure, he said.

In terms of the government's AI readiness index, it ranks 55th in the world, up 7 spots since 2021.

The government has invested in key scientific programs such as KC 01, KC 4.0, and the Nafosted Foundation, along with 100 national-level artificial intelligence projects.

In addition, Project 844 is a national digital transformation program. Particularly, three significant units, HCMC, Hanoi, and Da Nang, are at the forefront of implementation. "The numbers show Vietnam's strong development in the region," Lam said.

However, he pointed out some challenges, including human resource training, database issues, and the need to share central calculations with each other.

He believes that more emphasis should be put on specific applications in each area. For example, he said the accessibility of AI in the agricultural industry remains limited.

Dr. Nguyen Bich Thao from the University of Law, Vietnam National University Hanoi, continued the program with a presentation on the approach, development, and challenges of Vietnamese AI law.

She said the legal system should promote innovation and new technology while maintaining fairness, security, and safety for society.

In today's context, artificial intelligence has brought challenges to the legal system while also supporting the development of legal and technological solutions that help solve traditional law problems more effectively and optimally.

This requires legal reform by providing the foundation for innovation and the timely adaptation of changing business models, technologies, and social connections. However, "the legal reform process cannot be rushed," said Thao.

Dr. Nguyen Bich Thao from the University of Law, Vietnam National University Hanoi, speaks at the AI4VN 2023 on September 21, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Dr. Allaine Cerwonka from the Alan Turing Institute then spoke more on regulations in the AI industry.

She said AI regulations present themselves in a wide range of forms. She also mentioned that since AI is developing at such a rapid pace, it is crucial to approach it from a human perspective, connecting the community to solve problems together.

It can be launched at the national level to develop multidimensional discussions or to deploy experimental institutional frameworks (sandboxes) and standards to define AI products (such as AI applications in health care, medicine, and testing tools).

Dr. Shyam Krishna, the last speaker, highlighted ethical issues and the policy decision-making process. He pointed out that governmental decisions should reflect the importance of responsible AI while aiming for beneficial values for people.

Speakers at the panel discussion at the AI4VN 2023 on September 21, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Following the speaker's presentation, Dr. Thao hosted a discussion session on the topic "Dilemma in the Use of AI: Innovation and Uncertainty."

Guests also shared their thoughts and concerns about the responsible application of artificial intelligence.

The discussion session received many questions from the hall, and an answer session ended the conference.

The annual two-day Vietnam Artificial Intelligence Day 2023 (AI4VN 2023) opened at Riverside Palace in HCMC’s District 4 on Thursday with the theme "Artificial Intelligence Empowering Life."

The program has many activities, such as the AI Summit, the AI Workshop, the AI Expo, the CTO Summit 2023, and the AI Show zones.

The event, directed by the Ministry of Science and Technology and organized by VnExpress in coordination with FISU, aims to help the community and businesses better understand the application of AI technology in life and is a bridge to help ministries, departments, branches, and businesses discuss policies and support methods in AI development in Vietnam.