AI Development: Driving Economic Growth and Safeguarding National Security

The event drew the participation of senior leaders, policymakers, academics, and business representatives. Chairing the discussion were Politburo member Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Xuân Thắng, General Lương Tam Quang – Minister of Public Security, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng, and Senior Lieutenant General Lê Huy Vịnh – Deputy Minister of National Defense.

Speakers stressed that in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, AI is regarded as a core technology capable of reshaping the global order. It holds enormous potential to accelerate economic growth, optimize production, transform healthcare, modernize education, and enhance governance. For nations, AI is not only a source of innovation but also a strategic resource underpinning national competitiveness in the digital age.

Yet, the rise of AI also introduces unprecedented risks: ethical dilemmas, cybercrime, data privacy breaches, disinformation, and threats to defense and security. Globally, major powers are racing to set policy frameworks to harness AI’s benefits while limiting its dangers.

For Vietnam, the Party has identified science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as key levers for sustainable development. Resolution 57 highlights AI as a critical breakthrough to overcome the middle-income trap and achieve the nation’s centennial development goals. Projections suggest AI could contribute up to USD 80 billion, or around 12% of GDP, by 2030 if widely applied.

Legal foundations are gradually being established, including the Digital Technology Industry Law 2025, along with national strategies on AI and semiconductor development. Vietnam now boasts hundreds of AI startups, ranking second in Southeast Asia, and three out of four domestic enterprises already apply AI in their operations.

However, challenges remain. Experts at the conference called for a delicate balance between innovation and regulation, opportunity and risk, integration and sovereignty. They underscored the urgent need for comprehensive strategies that encompass legal frameworks, infrastructure, human resources, and a vision for AI that is safe, human-centered, and geared toward national interests.

Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Xuân Thắng emphasized that AI is rapidly transforming multiple sectors — from smart healthcare and autonomous transport to digital finance, urban management, and national defense. While AI carries nearly “unlimited power,” it also brings unforeseeable risks, particularly the threat of losing control over self-learning systems, as well as the social disruptions caused by job displacement.

Minister Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng reaffirmed that AI is no longer just a tool but a form of national infrastructure — akin to electricity, telecommunications, and the Internet. Vietnam must establish its own AI backbone to maintain sovereignty and competitiveness. He stressed that AI should remain a supportive assistant, augmenting rather than replacing human decision-making, values, and responsibility.

Closing the event, Senior Lieutenant General Lê Huy Vịnh highlighted several key policy directions:

• Formulating a long-term national AI development strategy.

• Building a robust legal and ethical framework for AI governance.

• Encouraging innovation among domestic enterprises, especially private firms.

• Pursuing technological self-reliance in AI.

• Constructing a safe, sustainable, and human-centric AI ecosystem.

• Ensuring AI development is firmly linked to social responsibility and ethical standards.

The conference concluded that with determination, innovation, and collaboration, Vietnam can develop a strong AI ecosystem that fuels economic and social progress while protecting national security — ensuring AI serves the people and contributes to the country’s sustainable growth.