Việt Nam urged to build legal corridor for artificial intelligence sector
Việt Nam needs a policy on artificial intelligence (AI) to help this industry develop strongly, while minimising risks, according to insiders.
In the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 127/QĐ-TTG dated January 26, 2021 promulgating the national strategy on research, development and application of AI by 2030, the building of a legal system and corridor related to AI is one of the highlights.
Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Nguyễn Hoàng Giang affirmed that Việt Nam cannot stay out of the game, but must ensure two factors. On the one hand, the country needs to build an open environment meeting practical needs in research and development and socio-economic development. But on the other hand, due to the downside of AI, it must be developed responsibly, in accordance with Vietnamese practice and culture.
Digital technology development must go hand in hand with responsibility and ethics, he stressed.
The ministry is also reporting to the Government on the need to propose the promulgation of a law on digital technology industry to the National Assembly, in order to create new development space for digital technology, and turn it into a new production force, resource and factor, and a new driving force of the country.
Nguyễn Phú Tiến, Deputy Director of the National Digital Transformation Department under the Ministry of Information and Communications, said that the ministry is tasked with developing and completing additional legal documents on establishing and sharing data about the testing framework (sandbox), thus creating a favourable space with specifically designed legal policy framework to conduct AI testing in potential fields.
The ministry has also assigned the department to preside over the pilot implementation of large language models and virtual assistants, and build a Benchmark set (a strategic tool used to compare the performance of processes, products and services of a business with the performance of the best companies inside and outside the industry) to evaluate the quality of large language models. It is expected to be issued in 2024.
The Ministry of Science and Technology has proposed the Government approve a national strategy on AI research, development and application by 2030.
The move is to create a boost for Việt Nam's AI industry, turning the country into a bright spot in this regard, said deputy chief of the MOST’S Department of High Technology Trần Anh Tú.
In 2023, AI industry amounts to
The information ministry has worked with businesses, and the businesses have committed to accompanying in building a legal environment ensuring the rights and interests of individuals and organisations in the online environment."
Nguyễn Phú Tiến, Deputy Director of the National Digital Transformation Department under the Ministry
of Information and Communications
some US$208 billion in 2023, and was predicted to reach as much as $1.35 trillion in 2030.
Việt Nam is joining this promising industry by providing services, products, and human resources. At the same time, AI applications are increasingly widespread in various aspects of daily life in the country. The explosion of AI technology in Việt Nam brings many benefits, but also presents drawbacks, raising issues of ethical standards and legal regulations, which will need to be addressed by lawmakers.
"The consistent standpoint in the development of legal regulations related to virtual assistants is to develop and apply AI -- with humans and businesses at the centre -- to avoid technology misuse as well as infringement on the rights and legitimate interests of organisations and individuals. The information ministry has worked with businesses, and the businesses have committed to accompanying in building a legal environment ensuring the rights and interests of individuals and organisations in the online environment," Nguyễn Phú Tiến noted.