HCMC – The international conference The Future of Artificial Intelligence–JDI Chapter 3 concluded in Ho Chi Minh City in late August, underscoring how artificial intelligence is shifting from a supporting role to systems capable of operating independently and handling complex tasks once performed by humans. The event marked a milestone for Vietnam, reinforcing its position on the global AI map and signaling growing readiness among domestic businesses to embrace advanced technologies.
Organized by Launch JDI with the support of Nvidia and the Singapore Global Network (SGN), the conference brought together more than 1,000 participants from technology corporations, AI startups, academia and policy institutions from Vietnam, Singapore, Southeast Asia and other markets.
The program included plenary sessions, executive roundtables and a technology exhibition at the JW Marriott Hotel & Suites Saigon, which showcased new AI trends and urged companies to treat AI as a necessary driver of growth.
One key presentation came from Ng Aik Beng of Nvidia, who outlined the emergence of Agentic AI — systems that allow AI agents to coordinate and assign tasks in ways similar to human teamwork. The technology can already search data, analyze problems and draft reports, and is evolving into autonomous agents capable of automating complex business processes as well as supporting research and programming.
In the session “Crossing the chasm: Turning digital-first into AI-ready”, Jason Lin of Alibaba Cloud highlighted differences between AI-aware, AI-ready and AI-native companies, stressing that robust platforms and governance frameworks are essential for traditional businesses to adopt AI effectively.
At a business roundtable, Michael La of Tictag noted that Vietnamese retailers are increasingly prioritizing customized, practical AI solutions over rigid off-the-shelf products, reflecting strong demand for flexibility in adoption.
The exhibition featured a range of solutions from Alibaba Cloud, Tictag, Phong Vu, Antler, Pigeonhole Live, Breezing and Memobot, alongside startups including AIWIZE, Breezlab, BowNow, NSpace, H3 Zoom.AI, Tagronix, Taureau AI and Tracework.ai.
Daryl Chung, co-founder and business development director of Launch JDI, said Chapter 3 represents an important step in building a regional AI community. “This success reflects the combined efforts of speakers, sponsors, exhibitors and partners,” he added.
A notable feature of the conference was the involvement of the Saigon Times Foundation (STF), which joined as a strategic partner with Launch JDI and JDI Talent. The three organizations are collaborating to foster innovation and develop young talent through scholarships, education–industry partnerships and practical training programs. Their aim is to equip Vietnam’s next generation with the skills and creativity needed to participate in the AI economy.
The conference is seen as a stepping stone for Vietnam and Southeast Asia in both AI adoption and workforce development, laying the groundwork for technology-driven economic growth and competitiveness.
