Step out of your comfort zone and open a new door
Starting to program at the age of nine, the new director of artificial intelligence spent four years in college pursuing a degree in business administration. At first, he set his sights on becoming an entrepreneur, but quickly realized that technology and engineering could open the door to any industry. He returned to graduate studies in computer science at Carnegie Mellon University (USA) and obtained a PhD in AI from the University of Tokyo (Japan), both of which are world-leading universities in technology and science. computer.
Get results from decisions that go against the crowd
– Why did you finish your master’s degree in the US and move to Japan instead of staying, which is considered the world’s technology center?
I am a person who loves new challenges, forcing myself to step out of my comfort zone. At that time, my research instructor in the US introduced an internship opportunity for Hitachi in Japan. Most people who have come to the US to study want to stay, but I left the US to go to Japan. And it was the right decision. Eight years of working and studying at Hitachi Corporation has been a great experience in my career.
– It must be very interesting to work at such large research institutes? Can you share more about your research work in such places?
Major research institutes in the world are the “headquarters” for billion-dollar corporations, which create the latest inventions and solutions in technology. They have a very methodical process from theoretical research to product. For example, they divide up departments to solve problems with different long-term and short-term visions. From problems that affect human life from 20 to 100 years from now, to problems that are close and produce products in the next year.
The department I work for has a vision of 3 to 5 years, researching in the context of when AI and data explode, what can we do. The research projects I’ve worked on include a fully AI factory automation solution; or AI to support intelligent traffic calculation and monitoring; creating AI-powered indoor self-driving algorithms for robots; and also predicting human movements for smartphones. I have participated in applied research projects for banks, supply chains, and smart factories.
I consider myself lucky to have been exposed to the early days of AI, rubbing against a wide range of ideas, problems, and industries. I made more than 20 scientific articles, 8 patents registered with Hitachi in many countries, and had the opportunity to come to Canada as a representative in association with the world’s leading AI Research Institute Mila and work with Professor Yoshua Bengio – the “godfather” of modern AI.
Mr. Xuan Phong speaks at the Data Centric AI Competition
Approach AI Consciously
– What is your job at Mila Research Institute?
At Mila, the world’s leading minds solve AI problems of the future, long-term problems that can create big changes. The current AI is only solving specific and limited problems, the future AI can reason and find the links in the chain of knowledge, which can help society more.
At Mila, I act as a bridge between theoretical research and application, tasked with bringing new AI innovations to real-world technological innovation. I focus on two problems: AI that learns cause-and-effect, and AI that learns reinforcement, with its ability to understand and model the world. It was a very interesting experience, going back and forth between academic and applied.
I also received a lot of knowledge about professional ethics while working in AI at Mila. Scientists are well aware of the potential and power of AI, and have a huge responsibility to build AI right. We are all well educated about the risks and the purpose of creating AI is to serve the good of people.
Step out of your comfort zone and face new challenges
– With such enthusiasm, why did you leave your old job? The opportunity for you must not be lacking, why did you decide to return to Vietnam?
After eight years of work, it was time for me to choose the direction of my career. My decision comes from the desire to contribute to Vietnam, smoldering since the first day I moved abroad. I want to find a place that needs me, want my research to have a deeper impact on business, create real products.
At that time, I also had many options in Vietnam, but in my opinion, FPT Software was the ideal environment – a global company, with many offices around the world and a multi-national staff. At the same time, what I like most is that the company’s culture is always supportive of new ideas and products, and is an ideal place to “incubate” new talents and projects.
Dr. Xuan Phong and FPT Software team
– From a research position to management and application of your core technology to business, it is very different from your previous career, is it a big challenge for you?
Yes, if I continue to stay in my old research position, I will have peaceful days doing research and engineering. It was FPT Software who once again brought me out of my comfort zone, opening the next new door in my life.
According to the “T” shaped career development chart, a person needs technical depth and breadth in management skills and soft skills. As the head of an AI technology organization, I have not only continued to deepen my engineering and technology, but have also expanded in operations, administration, and business. This is also how I challenge myself to get better.
I also think that young Vietnamese people are very smart, capable, and hardworking people. I have the opportunity to guide you in your development, find a new idea, and bring it to life. That is why I am very excited about this position.
Nurturing the AI talent of the future
– What are your future plans at FPT Software?
With the experience gained at leading research institutes in the world, I have designed FPT Software AI Lab and AI Residency research program for young people. This is a high-class research environment, in Vietnam there are very few institutions that can do so. Researchers participating in AI Residency will have two years to unleash their creativity, propose new ideas, and be guided by some of the world’s leading AI researchers.
The finished product for your research is that you will be able to write patents, scientific articles, create prototypes, and demonstrate the implementation and effectiveness of the solution. Thanks to the world-class teachers at Mila and at AI Lab, you are “bridged” to access and absorb the world’s best knowledge right here in Vietnam.
Two years is enough time for you to dig deep into difficult problems. You will be mature and ready to go further. And then one day, you can return to FPT Software and build the main AI product from your proposal.
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