Vietnam has recorded rapid development in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) over the past year, a workshop in Hanoi on June 14 on promoting the application and development of AI in the process of industrialization and modernization heard.

The workshop was held on the sidelines of the Industry 4.0 Summit, which was hosted by the Central Economic Commission and opened in the capital on the same day.

An index report released by the UK’s Oxford Insights in February showed that Vietnam’s AI Readiness Score was 51.82 out of 100, surpassing the global average of 47.72 and helping the country climb 14 places compared to the previous year.

The readiness of a country or territory in terms of AI is evaluated through three pillars: the government, technology, and data infrastructure.

The Party Central Committee has issued a Resolution clearly defining Vietnam’s model of industrialization and modernization to 2030 with a vision towards 2045 as being based on science and technology, innovation, and achievements in Industry 4.0.

The 2021-2030 period sees a focus on using this basis to create breakthroughs in the productivity, quality, efficiency, and competitiveness of sectors and the economy as a whole.

Vietnam views digital technology as one of six key industries with priority given to the development of AI, big data, blockchain, cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), telecommunications electronics, and semiconductor manufacturing.

Experts have forecast that AI will contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030.