Vietnam needs to develop AI, data is key

My goal was simple, to acquire some professional and in-depth knowledge about artificial intelligence (AI).

Singapore did not disappoint me. My last time visiting the country was 10 years ago, and the country has not changed in any negative ways. Trees still flank both sides of the highways, little green parks still dot most street corners, and the traffic remains organized, even in rush hour.

The conference, similar to everything I experienced in Singapore, was meticulously organized. The event organizers skillfully managed the large gathering full of forums, galleries, fundraising, recruitment and networking activities organized without any downtime.

One question I wanted to answer was: Where are the global AI hotspots?

Through the conference, I got some clues that lead across continents: From Japan, a global technology powerhouse, to less-developed African countries, where AI is more widely applied to agriculture, medical studies and economic activities, which have led to some considerable achievements.

My original mindset had me skeptical of how "magical" AI hype sounds. But after the conference, I was thoroughly mesmerized. For example, a CT scan of the lungs may be interpreted quite differently by different doctors with different levels of expertise, but through the machine’s expert knowledge of millions of CT scans, in some not-so-distant future, the machine interpretation of CT scans may be almost perfect.

The concepts of robots and machinery are both familiar but distant to most ordinary people. Familiar, as we all have seen science fiction with invincible robotic fighting machines, but distant, as we well know the fictional nature of such scenes.

At the conference, I watched some robot scientists explain the mechanisms behind how the simple acts of humans tripping and falling, and then standing up again, serve as important lessons for robots to learn how to remain stable against external forces.

The implications of such technologies are great. The possibilities for failure among robots is almost zero after extensive training and experimentation.

At the conference that day, the audience burst into laughter when the first robot fell down with a light push. The laughter quickly turned into applause as the next versions of the robots stood still against stronger forces.

"No Data, No AI" was the beginning and closing sentence uttered by most speakers. Data indeed plays a vital role in every AI system, but is not always adequately appreciated. For example:

Upon consulting for various clients about corporate technology solutions, I always begin with a question about the client’s data system. Most clients confidently say that they have been collecting data for dozens of years. Sadly, having years of data does not mean that the data would be usable. Sometimes, only 20% of the data are fit to be used.

For small and medium enterprises in Vietnam, the main question is "upon applying new technologies, where to start?" For large conglomerates, the question is "how to collect usable and good data for the future?"

Collecting good data is a good starting point, but it should be followed by proper data analysis and effective corporate decision-making. Corporations should invest in smart data management systems and continuously try to improve their in-house team data analytic capabilities.

Only with a combination of good data, good analysis, and good decision-making does data become an invaluable asset that helps companies with strategic decision-making and utilization of business activities. If not, all data-gathering efforts just waste valuable resources.

Vietnam has made considerable progress in applying technology and AI, as shown via international reports and rankings on information technology development and telecommunications systems. However, to optimize effectiveness and to develop sustainably, Vietnam should focus on how applicable the developments are to the general public.

Delaying technology development, especially AI, is not an option. To maintain its competitiveness on the international market, Vietnam needs to strive to be the forerunner of AI development and application.

I was delighted to converse with some science and technology development experts in Da Nang, a forerunner in Vietnam when it comes to many technological matters. Through our discussions, I understood that Da Nang has great potential in science development, and there are increasing efforts to realize that potential. If we do not start today, even with baby steps, we could be left behind.

If corporations are concerned about technological development, let’s start with the small steps.

In 2017, Mark Cuban, a well-known U.S. businessman and entrepreneur said "Artificial Intelligence, deep learning, machine learning — whatever you’re doing if you don’t understand it — learn it. Because otherwise you’re going to be a dinosaur within 3 years."

We might as well start with a first step.

*Tran Hung Thien is an expert on market analysis and lecturer at the VNUK Danang and the Crimson Institute.