AI is now entering a phase where it must demonstrate practical value, measured by specific ROI metrics and operational efficiency across industries and sectors. This marks a pivotal moment for large Vietnamese tech companies to step up and define their positions in the global AI value chain.

The rise of vertical AI

While the first wave of AI was dominated by general-purpose models serving the masses, the next wave is witnessing a significant shift: Vertical AI – AI tailored for specific sectors and industries such as healthcare, energy, manufacturing, and automotive –domain-specific AI, also known as vertical AI, is beginning to assert its value. Many technology experts believe this will be the next major driver of economic value in AI commercialization. AIM Research estimates the global vertical AI market will surpass $100 billion by 2032.

From AI-assisted diagnostic systems in healthcare, smart factory operation management, to financial assistants in the banking sector, AI is becoming increasingly personalized for each industry. According to Gartner, by 2026, 80 per cent of enterprises will have adopted domain-specific AI agents.

This shift creates opportunities for businesses not only with robust technological capabilities, computing infrastructure, and solutions, but also deep domain knowledge and agile, flexible deployment capabilities to build AI agents - digital colleagues that accompany humans to enhance productivity, efficiency, and work quality. With a comprehensive AI competency – from infrastructure to model development - and hands-on experience solving domain-specific problems both domestically and internationally, FPT is staying ahead of the curve with practical, value-focused approaches that solve major challenges for clients worldwide.

FPT and the journey to capture the vertical AI opportunity

In Japan - a highly developed market facing mounting pressure from legacy systems - many businesses still operate on decades-old software platforms. These systems, consisting of millions of lines of outdated code, incur high operating costs, low efficiency, and present significant challenges in integrating with modern technologies. A major real estate company in Japan, for example, once required months to process internal data due to its outdated, fragmented, and automation-resistant system.

FPT has partnered with enterprises in Japan and other countries in their digital modernization journeys, leveraging the power of AI models to interpret and analyze legacy code and automate data processing workflows. With xMainframe, a proprietary FPT technology, the company has shortened project timelines by 30 per cent while helping engineers quickly grasp old systems with up to 90 per cent accuracy. As a result, clients can now update data weekly instead of monthly, significantly improving operational efficiency.

This is just one of many examples illustrating how FPT is harnessing AI to address practical, domain-specific problems. “We’re focusing on developing specialized AI for specific verticals - deep niches that remain largely untapped, where AI can truly create real, differentiated value,” said Mr. Pham Minh Tuan, Executive Vice President of FPT Corporation and CEO of FPT Software.

In the manufacturing sector, for instance, FPT has developed the I2 platform, enabling businesses to monitor quality, predict maintenance, and optimize operational performance through the analysis of image and sound data from production lines. In finance and insurance, the IvyChat solution applies Large Language Models (LLMs) to automate data analysis, support sales performance evaluation, and enhance data management. In healthcare, FPT’s CareMate solution, particularly its iTelemate feature, enables doctors to quickly grasp patient conditions via summarized medical histories and real-time multilingual transcription, thereby improving consultation quality and personalized communication.

These solutions are not only grounded in technological strength but also reflect deep domain expertise and a thorough understanding of the unique needs of each market, thereby delivering practical value to enterprises.

One of the key factors enabling FPT to stay ahead in domain-specific AI lies in its internal organizational transformation. The company is gradually reshaping its workforce by combining humans with AI - creating an AI-augmented workforce, where each employee is supported by a personal AI assistant that helps optimize daily work - from execution to creativity and global integration.

According to Mr. Tuan, while AI still struggles with user empathy, cultural sensitivity, and experience design, it can serve as a platform for training, supporting, and developing a new generation of human resources with superior speed and productivity. This is how humans and technology can evolve together - not as competitors, but as collaborators, driving improvements in both work quality and life.

It is evident that in the global landscape that is rapidly shifting towards domain-specific AI, FPT is solidifying its role as a pioneer - not only through technological capabilities but also through a deep commitment to organizational and human transformation. This adaptability will be the key to building sustainable competitive advantage and propelling the company forward in the AI era.