In a recent insightful dialogue themed “AI Safety - Shaping Responsible Innovation,” Dr. Truong Gia Binh, Founder and Chairman of FPT Corporation, and the Turing Award laureate Prof. Yoshua Bengio, Founder and Scientific Director of Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, discussed the future of Artificial Intelligence, exploring how to harness AI for societal benefit while ensuring it evolves within ethical boundaries and with full accountability. 

Addressing over 15,000 in-person and online audiences, including tech leaders, practitioners, and young IT enthusiasts, the discussion explored a shared vision of AI as a powerful tool for human advancement.

(L-R) Hosted by Dr. Phong Nguyen, Chief AI Officer of FPT Software, FPT Corporation, Prof. Yoshua Bengio, and Dr. Truong Gia Binh joined a fireside chat on AI safety and innovation 

The Ethical Imperative: Safeguarding AI’s Future

Reflecting on AI’s rapid evolution, Prof. Yoshua Bengio shared that AI systems are advancing faster than anticipated, raising the question: What happens when AI surpasses human capabilities? He emphasized the urgent need for caution, advocating for the precautionary principle in AI development. "If we build machines smarter than us, we must ensure they remain tools that serve humanity, not autonomous agents with their own goals,” he stated, underscoring the risk of AI-controlled scenarios that could potentially be catastrophic.

Prof. Yoshua Bengio, Founder and Scientific Director of Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, also widely regarded as one of the “Godfathers of AI”

Both leaders agreed that AI must remain a tool that augments human decision-making and well-being, not an independent force with unpredictable objectives. Ethical frameworks are needed to guide the development of AI, ensuring it aligns with human values and contributes to societal welfare. The conversation further delved into the importance of AI transparency, accountability, and the development of safeguards against malicious uses, such as AI-driven cyberattacks or weaponization.

Intelligent Automation Is Transforming Job Markets

As AI-powered automation continues to reshape industries, both leaders discussed the challenges and opportunities posed by intelligent automation. Prof. Bengio clarified that while AI can drive efficiency, it should not be viewed as a threat to jobs. Instead, AI is an opportunity for growth and human collaboration.

Dr. Truong Gia Binh, Founder and Chairman of FPT Corporation

Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Truong Gia Binh shared: “In the future, the old jobs will be gone, but new jobs will require significant technological expertise. You need to master AI, understand how it works, and adapt to its revolution. Those who have these kinds of skills will not be left behind. We are a new way of working: human-AI collaboration.”

As the landscape evolves, the key to navigating this transformation lies in re-skilling and up-skilling workers in AI-related fields. Collaboration between humans and AI will become essential in driving innovation and sustaining competitive advantage. 

“A lot of application domains are very complex, requiring social and human factors. These aspects will likely stay in human hands, but you will need ones who understand how to apply AI and technology in these situations,” Prof. Bengio added.

Nurturing the Next Generation of AI Talent

A focus of the discussion was the importance of AI education, especially for Vietnam’s young generations. Prof. Bengio emphasized while they boast great potential, to remain competitive globally, Vietnamese students must be equipped with foundational AI literacy, blending technical expertise with an understanding of other social sciences and the ethical implications of AI.

“We need our engineers to understand the aspects of society and humanities so that they can apply AI  and other technologies in a mindful way,” he said. 

Both leaders also stressed that AI curricula in schools and universities are essential for cultivating a future-ready workforce capable of leading AI innovation. As Vietnam continues to build its digital economy, the country’s youth represents a powerful asset. By fostering a culture of innovation, creativity, and ethical AI practices, Vietnam can cultivate a new generation of AI leaders poised to lead on the world stage.

“The current global geopolitics situation sets a very special opportunity for Vietnam’s growth. And I want to further push that momentum through the power of AI and AI education, cementing our position on the global stage,” Dr. Binh stated.

The event took place in FPT Tower - FPT Headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam

Standing as a driving force behind Vietnam’s ambitious agenda, FPT has aligned its strategic direction with the government’s vision of an AI-driven nation. With over 1,500 AI engineers and a robust ecosystem integrating education, innovation, and global collaborations, the company is committed to fostering a new generation of AI-enabled engineers and delivering cutting-edge AI solutions. 

In the future, FPT will continue to promote the development of ethical and responsible AI practices globally. Recent initiatives include the launch of the FPT AI Factory, a comprehensive AI platform designed to support the end-to-end AI product lifecycle, the AI partner ecosystem with global technology pioneers, and most recently, its participation in Vietnam's Ethical AI Committee during the event.

For the full discussion, please visit this page.