On the morning of February 28, 2024, the University of Law, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, organized the Scientific Conference "Development and Application of Responsible Artificial Intelligence: Theory and Practice." The seminar is part of the research project to develop a set of principles and guidelines for the development of Responsible Artificial Intelligence (RAI) in Vietnam, based on the support of the Aus4Innovation Program - an Australian Government development assistance program to promote the innovation ecosystem in Vietnam. The seminar was co-chaired by Associate Professor. Dr. Bui The Duy (Deputy Minister of Science and Technology) and Associate Professor. Dr. Nguyen Thi Que Anh (Rector of the University of Law, Vietnam National University, Hanoi – VNU-UL). The conference included the participation of Associate Professor. Dr. Pham Bao Son (Vice Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi) and representatives of departments and units within Vietnam National University, Hanoi; Mr. Kim Wimbush (CSIRO Attaché, Director of the Aus4Innovation Program). The conference also had the participation of representatives from state management agencies such as the Ministry of Science and Technology (Department of High Technology, Department of Legal Affairs), Ministry of Justice (Department of Civil and Economic Law, Institute of Strategy and Legal Science), Ministry of Information and Communications (Department of Information Technology and Communication Industry), Ministry of Health (Department of Legal Affairs), training and research institutions in the fields of policy, law, information technology, and communication (VNU University of Law, Hanoi University of Technology, University of Economics, VNU Institute of Information Technology, Hanoi University of Cryptography, Hanoi Law University, State and Law Institute - Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Institute of Policy Research and Communication Development under the Vietnam Digital Communications Association, UK - Vietnam University, Dai Nam University...), and UNESCO representatives in Vietnam.

 

In the opening remarks, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Que Anh - Rector of VNU-UL, Project Chair - stated that artificial intelligence is one of the fundamental elements of the fourth industrial revolution and is growing rapidly. Alongside significant benefits, the development of artificial intelligence is also raising deep concerns about the potential risks from ethical, social, and legal perspectives. In that context, the research project to develop a set of principles and guidelines for the development of responsible artificial intelligence in Vietnam has been implemented, closely following the requirements for building policies and laws regarding new technologies, especially AI, emphasizing the synthesis, analysis, and evaluation of ethical frameworks for the development and application of AI worldwide, as well as analyzing the characteristics, social situation, and legal framework in Vietnam.

 

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Associate Professor, Dr. Bui The Duy

 

 

 

Mr. Kim Wimbush - CSIRO Attaché, Director of the Aus4Innovation Program

In the opening speeches, Deputy Minister Bui The Duy and Mr. Kim Wimbush (CSIRO Attaché, Director of the Aus4Innovation Program) both emphasized that Responsible AI is a globally recognized issue, attracting the attention of countries around the world as AI develops rapidly and poses many challenges and risks in ethical, social, and legal aspects. Responsible AI is an interdisciplinary issue, bridging the fields of technology, law, and management, requiring the collective efforts of all relevant parties. In recent years, there have been many efforts globally to develop legal and ethical frameworks to manage and control AI and promote Responsible AI, such as UNESCO's Recommendation on the Ethics of AI (2021), the Framework for Assessing the Readiness of Countries to Implement UNESCO's Recommendation (2022), the European Union's AI Act (2023), the recent ASEAN countries' adoption of a common framework on AI governance (2023), Australia's release of the AI Responsible Principles (2019), and China's rapid development with the Ethics Management Guidelines for AI (2023). Responsible AI must be comprehensively considered throughout its entire lifecycle, from problem identification and data collection to AI training tools and applications. The world is relatively unified on the basic principles of Responsible AI, including: (1) AI must be for humans, not harmful to humans, (2) AI must ensure faithful implementation of its design goals, (3) Safety and security, (4) Equality, fairness, (5) Protection of personal data and copyright, (6) Transparency and explainability.

 

The seminar featured 5 specialized reports presented by experts in the fields of law and technology. The reports addressed the current development status of artificial intelligence in Vietnam and the issues related to Responsible AI in European, American, Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese countries.

 

During the discussion session, the seminar benefited from inputs provided by experts in technology, policy, law, and management, such as Dr. Chu Thi Hoa from the Institute of Strategy and Legal Science (Ministry of Justice), Dr. Tran Anh Tu from the Department of High Technology (Ministry of Science and Technology), Mr. Nguyen Quang Dong from the Institute of Policy Research and Communication Development (Vietnam Digital Communications Association), and Ms. Nguyen Thi Dung from the UNESCO Representative Office in Vietnam. These delegates shared their perspectives on the roles of "hard law" and "soft law" in the governance of AI. They emphasized that the concept of "Responsible AI" encompasses legal obligations and ethical and social responsibilities. Notably, ongoing efforts in Vietnam to draft AI-related legislation aim to integrate considerations of ethical technology development. For instance, examples include the draft Law on Science and Technology (amended) and the draft Law on Digital Technology Industry.

In the concluding remarks, Rector Nguyen Thi Que Anh affirmed the critical task of the seminar in defining what Responsible AI includes, initiating the study of approaches taken by typical countries worldwide to draw lessons and implications for Vietnam's policies. She stated “ Vietnam has the advantage of learning from the experiences of other countries but cannot simply copy the policies and laws of other countries”.