Themed A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI, the report evaluates human progress using the Human Development Index (HDI), which measures achievements in health, education, and income.

According to the report, Vietnam’s HDI in 2023 reached 0.766, ranking it 93rd out of 193 countries and territories, and placing it in the “high human development” category. Since 1990, Vietnam’s HDI has risen by 53.5% from 0.499 to 0.766, highlighting remarkable progress.

However, the report warns of a global slowdown in human development, with progress stalling at an unprecedented rate since the 2020–2021 crisis. Excluding the pandemic years, the current pace of human development is the lowest since 1990.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Ramla Khalidi, UNDP’s Resident Representative in Vietnam, emphasised that AI’s impact on human well-being is not predetermined. She called on governments and societies to consciously shape AI to serve humanity, not dominate it.

Khalidi underscored that the digital transformation in Vietnam is advancing rapidly, and while the country’s HDI is high, regional and demographic disparities persist. AI could either bridge or widen these gaps, depending on how it is governed, she said.

The UNDP Vietnam resident representative praised Vietnam’s recent policies, including Resolution 57 of the Political Bureau and Decision 127 of the Prime Minister, which lay out a legal and strategic foundation for AI development. She also welcomed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s call to train 100,000 engineers in AI and semiconductors, noting that AI must be safe, ethical, and inclusive.

UNDP supports Vietnam in implementing its national AI strategy, to ensure that AI contributes to equity, sustainability, and human progress both domestically and globally, said Khalidi.

The event brought together scientists, policymakers, tech experts, businesses, and stakeholders to explore how AI can drive human development in alignment with Vietnam’s national digital transformation goals and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Vietnam makes great contributions to human development, sustainable growth

Vietnam is a key partner of the UN in general and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in particular with great contributions to human development and sustainable growth in recent years.