According to a forecast by the International Data Corporation (IDC), by 2030, artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to contribute a staggering $5 trillion to the global economy. This field is unlocking unprecedented growth opportunities for nations worldwide, including Vietnam.
However, as AI’s immense data processing power raises critical questions about risks, ethics, and technological boundaries, should its development be slowed down?
This pivotal question will be addressed at the panel discussion titled “AI for Humanity: Ethics and Safety in the New Era,” scheduled for December 2, 2025. Serving as the opening event of the “Science for Life” seminar series within the VinFuture Sci-Tech Week 2025, the discussion will bring together leading AI experts and policymakers to explore responsible AI development and foster international cooperation for global AI governance.
Prof. Toby Walsh, a world-renowned AI expert from the University of New South Wales (Australia) and one of the panelists, emphasized the timeliness of the theme. “Ethics and safety are not barriers to innovation but the foundation for sustainable progress,” he stated.
Prof. Toby Walsh, a leading AI expert from Australia. Photo: UNSW
Prof. Walsh highlighted that the focus should not be on slowing AI’s advancement but on steering it toward benefiting humanity. Given AI’s far-reaching impact, he stressed the urgency of aligning its development with human values. “Its effects on Vietnam are no less significant than in the US, China, or Australia. We must prevent a world where ‘safety’ becomes a luxury for the few,” he warned.
Echoing this sentiment, Prof. Edson Prestes from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) noted that AI systems developed in one country can rapidly spread globally. “Risks are universal due to widespread adoption, making coordinated international regulations essential,” he asserted.
Vietnam’s Rapid Digital Transformation
Prof. Edson Prestes emphasizes the need for global participation in ethical AI development. Photo: UFRGS
The panel will also discuss strategies for responsible AI development, with Prof. Prestes stressing the importance of defining each nation’s role in the global AI ecosystem. “Active participation in AI development ensures technological alignment with national values,” he explained.
Prof. Walsh added, “The question is no longer whether AI impacts society, but which values will be embedded within it. Southeast Asia has the opportunity to forge its own ethical path, independent of Silicon Valley or Beijing.”
Prof. Walsh praised Vietnam’s rapid digitalization, stating, “Vietnam’s energy and ambition are remarkable. Its advancements in education, research, and digital transformation in just a few years are impressive.”
Experts believe such discussions will foster fair and responsible AI development in Vietnam, ensuring broader societal benefits.
“AI for Humanity: Ethics and Safety in the New Era”
Part of the “Science for Life” Seminar Series
Time: 13:30 – 16:30
Date: December 2, 2025
Venue: Almaz International Convention Center, Hanoi, Vietnam
Guest of Honor: Mr. Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng, Minister of Science and Technology, Vietnam
Moderator: Prof. Richard Friend, FRS, University of Cambridge, UK, Chair of the VinFuture Award Council
Key Speakers:
Assoc. Prof. César de la Fuente, University of Pennsylvania, USA — Alfred Sloan Fellow (2025), among the top 1% most-cited researchers globally in interdisciplinary fields;
Assoc. Prof. Lưu Anh Tuấn, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Executive Director of the AI Research Center at VinUni, Vietnam;
Prof. Edson Prestes, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, CNPq Researcher and member of the Global Commission on Responsible AI in Military Affairs;
Prof. Leslie Gabriel Valiant, FRS, Harvard University, USA, Turing Award Winner (2010), VinFuture Award Council Member;
Prof. Toby Walsh, UNSW Sydney, Australia, Scientia Professor and Director of UNSW.AI;
Video Contributions:
Prof. Yoshua Bengio, University of Montréal, Canada, Co-founder of Mila, UN Science Advisory Board Member, VinFuture Prize Laureate (2024);
Dr. Vinton Gray Cerf, Google, USA, “Father of the Internet,” VinFuture Prize Laureate (2022);
Prof. Geoffrey Hinton, University of Toronto, Canada, “Godfather of AI,” Nobel Laureate in Physics (2024), VinFuture Prize Laureate (2024).
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