FPT expert: It is easier for SMEs to apply AI thanks to software licensing model

On August 18^th, within the framework of Vietnam Artificial Intelligence Festival 2020 (AI4VN), the on “Applying AI to help businesses recover from COVID-19” took place online. The event was coordinated by Director of FPT Technology Research Institute Tran The Trung. The representatives of leading businesses and technology experts shared about the trends in AI research and application to the world as well as application into the urgent problems faced by Vietnamese enterprises.

Banking is one of the industries severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Deputy General Director of Vietinbank Tran Cong Quynh Lan, when businesses and people get into difficulties, the bank is also affected, for example, bad debts. Besides, the daily operations of the bank are also suffered, such as the interruption of face-to-face interactions results in a decrease in trading volume.

Necessity is the mother of invention. The bank promoted technology products, including AI, to ensure seamless transactions. He said that the bank has cooperated with FPT to pilot the chatbot in cardlock services to support ViettinBank staff and customers. AI chatbot can automatically identify customers, thereby assisting them in making requests, helping to improve customer experience and increase the bank staff's productivity.

The moderator of the seminar is the Director of FPT Technology Research Institute Tran The Trung. Key note speakers at the event include Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phong – AI Specialist at Mila Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (Canada), Mr. Tran Cong Quynh Lan – Deputy General Director of Vietinbank, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Tung – General Director of VNN, and Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam, Director of VinAI Research (Vingroup).

According to Director of FPT Technology Research Institute Tran The Trung, AI is one of the most important core technologies to help operate businesses. However for small and medium enterprises (SME), AI research and applications are not simple. FPT has now developed the software on demand Software-as-a-Service model, which help SMEs apply AI more easily.

In order to help businesses better apply AI to improve operation and optimize productivity, in July, FPT also held an online consultation session joined by hundreds of businesses. The alliance between businesses, experiences sharing and companion are some of the current effective solutions to help businesses find a way out and survive through the Covid-19 pandemic.

A delegate from the AI Research Institute asked: “In the world, many companies are providing data for AI systems. Is there any confidential data providers in Vietnam?”

According to Mr. Trung, data is still a vague concept due to the lack of legal framework. Therefore, it is extremely difficult for businesses to access data sources. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam, Director of Applied Products Division of VinAI Research, said that the problem is the current supply and demand in market. There are neither data buyers nor sellers.

According to Mr. Trung, it is extremely difficult for businesses to access data sources.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phong, an AI Specialist at Mila Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (Canada), offers a solution. In case businesses cannot buy the whole set, they can label their data. In Vietnam, some companies are providing data labeling services to train AI-powered system, for example FPT Corporation.