From chatbots to smart cars: how VinBigData is leading Vietnam’s AI charge

As a major user of AI, VinBigData demonstrates how effective data management is key to its success in AI adoption.

Vietnam is cementing its position as an attractive destination for AI-driven initiatives, having brought in one of the highest deal counts in 2023 for tech investments in SE Asia, with a total investment of US$529 million.

Recent discussions and news have also highlighted Vietnam’s potential to spearhead AI advancements in the region, emphasizing the need for collaboration among businesses and government bodies to build a robust AI ecosystem.

How is VinBigData leading Vietnam’s generative AI charge, catering to a large latent demand for AI developed for non-native English speakers, joining the race to develop genAI programs that cater to local languages and cultures, and driving Vietnam’s homegrown AI market?

DigiconAsia finds out from Dr Nguyen Kim Anh, CPO & Director of Virtual Assistant Technology Department, VinBigData.

Customer experience: AI-powered solutions, including chatbots and virtual assistants, are elevating customer experiences across industries like automotive, e-commerce, banking, and hospitality. Notably, VinFast’s ViVi Virtual Assistant 2.0, built on VinBigdata’s ViGPT Large Language Model, offers users natural, seamless interaction in VinFast’s EVs.

Innovation in products and services: Vietnamese startups are creating AI-driven innovations in areas like smart cities, healthcare, and fintech that are gaining attention both locally and internationally. A standout is VinBigdata’s ViFi solution, launched as Vietnam’s first comprehensive GenAI offering for the BFSI sector, delivering tailored automation, system integration, enhanced customer service, and smart data management.

Integration into core industries: AI is playing a significant role in Vietnam’s core industries, such as agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare. The International Rice Research Institute uses AI to develop climate-resilient rice varieties that will better equip Vietnamese farmers to cope with climate change. Elsewhere, VinBigdata has developed VinDr, an AI-enabled application that helps medical practitioners accurately diagnose and detect diseases. The product was recently FDA-certified, opening doors for adoption in the US.

As AI becomes increasingly embedded in Vietnam’s business landscape, it propels both traditional and emerging industries forward, positioning the country as a key player in the global digital economy. However, challenges such as digital infrastructure, skilled workforce shortages, and concerns remain.

Which industry sectors in Vietnam does genAI have (or will have) the most impact on? Why?

Dr Nguyen: The most affected sectors include:

BFSI: GenAI can automate customer service through virtual assistants, personalize financial advice, and improve fraud detection by analyzing vast amounts of data in real time. The BFSI sector is already seeing innovations in process automation, smart data management, and customer care. VinBigdata’s Gen AI application solutions are also being deployed for a number of large BFSI enterprises in Vietnam.

Healthcare: GenAI can revolutionize medical diagnostics by generating accurate interpretations of complex medical data, such as imaging and test results. It can also assist in drug discovery, personalized treatment plans, and even virtual healthcare delivery. This addresses Vietnam’s growing demand for healthcare services as the population ages.

Education and training: Gen AI can create personalized learning experiences, generate educational content, and provide real-time tutoring. It can also assist with language translation, which is important for Vietnam’s growing international education market, and generate tailored materials to suit different learning needs, closing the gap in digital literacy. Last year, when launching ViGPT, VinBigdata launched it with three versions: one for businesses and the other 2 versions are the community version and the developer version. The community version acts as a “Vietnamese ChatGPT,” designed for end users, featuring extensive knowledge and the capability to create content, search, synthesize, extract information, and answer common inquiries. What sets ViGPT apart is its focus on Vietnam-specific subjects, including law, history, culture, notable figures, scenic spots, and regional characteristics.

These sectors will experience the most impact from Gen AI due to their reliance on data-driven decision-making, the need for personalized customer experiences, and the increasing demand for automation to improve efficiency and competitiveness in both domestic and global markets.

Data access and data quality are key to effective AI adoption. How did VinBigData overcome challenges associated with fragmented data?

Dr Nguyen: Through our conversations with customers, we uncovered a significant challenge: fragmented data across multiple business units is hindering their ability to innovate, expand, and make informed, data-driven decisions. This realization highlighted the urgent need for a centralized data management system that ensures data accuracy and empowers organizations to effectively monitor and control their operations.

To address this, we turned to MongoDB, a leading database platform, to develop and deploy a centralized data management system, which provides our customers with a comprehensive and unified real-time view of their operations. This advancement streamlines processes and fosters a culture of innovation and agility, enabling businesses to thrive in an increasingly complex landscape.

How does VinBigData leverage genAI and MongoDB Atlas to enhance the user experience?

Dr Nguyen: The synergy between advanced AI and robust data management enhances user experience and sets a new standard for the industry. Our commitment to improving user experience is realized through the development of advanced AI applications, including intuitive chatbots and sophisticated speech recognition solutions. These technologies empower us to deliver not just faster, but genuinely personalized interactions that resonate with users.

Our chatbots provide immediate support that answers customers’ queries and resolves issues in real time—an essential capability in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. Meanwhile, our speech recognition solutions are designed to facilitate seamless, natural interactions, break down barriers, and make technology more accessible and user-friendly for everyone.

MongoDB Atlas is central to developing these applications, providing a scalable, stable, cloud-native, fully managed and secure database to quickly deploy and expand our AI solutions. Its flexible schema and agile data model allow us to harness diverse data types effortlessly, accelerating our development cycles.