HCM City leaders look at AI products displayed at an exhibition held on the Day for AI and IT Enterprises event in HCM City last Saturday (November 7) in HCM City. VNA/VNS Photo Thu Hoài.

HCM CITY— HCM City should take advantage of human resources from universities, research institutes, and IT enterprises to speed up digital transformation, Politburo member Nguyễn Thiện Nhân said on the Day for AI and IT Enterprises in HCM City held last Saturday in the city.

The city has enough human resources for digital transformation, but the problem facing the city is how to create effective linkages in research, training, solution provision, and state management, he said.

The city is waiting for the National Assembly and Government to approve a project on Developing Thủ Đức City, a proposed innovation hub and a good place to develop artificial intelligence, Nhân said.

Because AI analyses information based on digitalised data, the city has to speed up the completion of data digitalization in the next two months, he added.

Dr Vũ Hải Quân, deputy head of the Việt Nam National University-HCM City, said the city should set up AI hubs that include AI training centres, AI research clutters, and a centre for the operation of AI startups and exchange as well as display of products.

These components will be connected with one another through the city’s data centre and infrastructure, Quân said.

VNUHCM’s member universities each year enroll nearly 2,200 students in IT and more than 2,000 students in other relevant faculties such as maths, automation or AI, he said. These figures meet the city’s demands, he added.

VNUHCM should offer training meeting international standards, he said, adding that VNUHCM should also make a detailed plan on the establishment of AI research universities and institutes.

The city should carry out a programme on research and development of AI applications in the 2020-2030 period, Quân said, adding that it  should also issue more policies on incentives for AI products from public and private enterprises.

Professor Dr Nguyễn Thanh Thủy, chairman of the State Council for Professorship in Information Technology Field, said the opportunity for profit growth from AI is huge.

Việt Nam is on a list of 50 countries and territories that have AI strategies, Thủy said, adding that HCM City has shown a leading role in researching and applying AI in Việt Nam.

Thủy said the city should develop methods to promote AI products made by Vietnamese.

On the same day, the city People's Committee launched an Advisory Council for the Program of Research and Development of AI Applications in the city for 2020 – 2030.

The council includes 18 members who are leading domestic and foreign AI experts and scientists. The vice chairman of the People’s Committee is the chairman of the council.

The council's activities aim to develop an ecosystem for research, development and application of AI, and provide intelligent solutions for services and smart products. It will also contribute to building the city into a smart and innovative city.

The Day’s organizers also awarded winners in the AI Solutions Contest in 2020, and city leaders met outstanding students who have done research on AI. VNS