Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao Urges Ethical AI Future
Bangkok, June 26, 2025 – The 3rd UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, held from 24–27 June in Bangkok, brought together over 800 leaders, experts, and scholars from UNESCO's 194 member states to explore ethical frameworks for the future of AI.
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay opened the forum by emphasising how AI is reshaping the way we live, work, and connect. She described the moment as pivotal in human history and called for collective reflection guided by shared values. Azoulay reaffirmed UNESCO's commitment to global cooperation and expressed hope that the forum would serve as a milestone in establishing ethical AI standards that leave no one behind.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, in her opening address, reiterated Thailand's dedication to building an ethical and inclusive AI future and urged global leaders to ensure AI delivers lasting and sustainable benefits for all.
Representing Vietnam, Dr Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao—Chairwoman of Sovico Group and Vietjet Air—joined a high-level panel to discuss the role of policy, innovation, and technology in serving the public good.
'I come here today not only as a businesswoman leading a global airline and digital bank, and not only as a PhD in automation—but first and foremost as a mother,' Dr Thao began. 'A mother who believes that technology must be designed to serve humanity and to create a fairer, more inclusive world for the next generation.'
She described how millions of Vietjet passengers have taken flight for the first time to access better opportunities in education, healthcare, and employment. Through Vikki, her group's digital banking platform, rural women and students in remote areas have gained access to financial services that transformed their lives.
'AI must be a tool for equity,' Dr Thao stated. 'It should provide universal access to education, healthcare, and finance. Its development must be rooted in the well-being of society and the common good.'
She continued: 'We must begin with people—upholding equality based on dignity and the right to happiness, regardless of income, gender, background, or education. In the age of AI, I believe there is no difference between myself—a billionaire—and a tuk-tuk driver or an ordinary citizen on the street.'
Calling for a broader vision of AI, Dr Thao said: 'We must go beyond seeing AI as a mere tool. It must become a commitment—one that always returns to the heart of humanity, guided by compassion, integrity, and a shared aspiration for a fairer world.'
Dr Thao also called for global collaboration to establish an inclusive vision for AI rooted in trust and human-centred ethics. She pledged financial and operational support for international initiatives, including the proposed Fair Data Fund—a mechanism to provide transparent, unbiased, and multilingual data to train AI systems, especially in developing countries.
'Policies must prioritise vulnerable communities. No one should be left behind due to gender, geography, or circumstance,' she said. 'I urge this forum to expand policymaking spaces for women, girls, and marginalised groups—not just as recipients, but as co-creators of our digital future.'
Dr Thao concluded by affirming that she and her companies—Vietjet, HDBank, Vikki Bank, among others—remain committed to building a future where AI is not only intelligent, but also compassionate.
A longstanding partner of UNESCO and the United Nations, Dr Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao has supported initiatives in education, culture, science, and the empowerment of women and children. Her remarks at the forum reflect a clear and consistent message: that ethical leadership, grounded in human values, is essential in shaping the next era of technology.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bangkok Post
25 minutes ago
- Bangkok Post
Hun Sen's livestream 'breaks law'
Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen's livestream broadcast on Friday amounts to interference in Thailand's internal affairs and violates international protocol, says Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Russ Jalichandra. Mr Russ said the livestream appeared to threaten the Thai government's stability, noting Hun Sen's explicit call for regime change breached both international law and Asean principles. He urged Cambodian authorities to address concerns regarding criminal activity inside its borders, citing reports from organisations including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Amnesty International that have labelled Cambodia a global centre for illicit operations. "Cambodia should handle these allegations independently, without involving Thailand," Mr Russ said. Thailand, he said, had no obligation to clarify or defend Cambodia's reputation in response to the livestream. He also suggested Hun Sen's remarks might have been politically motivated to benefit certain groups within Thailand. Hun Sen's livestream came amid heightened tensions between the countries. During the broadcast, he made a series of accusations against the government and several prominent political figures, including former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul. The government has not responded formally. However, officials have reiterated the importance of diplomacy, restraint, and maintaining peaceful bilateral ties with Cambodia, particularly amid recent border disputes. Some observers say the response fails to meet the moment, especially when crowds calling for the PM's resignation in response to the furore over her recent phone call with Hun Sen are hitting the streets. In a Facebook post on Saturday, former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn called on the government to issue a formal response to Hun Sen's statements to maintain public trust. Mr Somchai stressed that as Hun Sen remains the most influential figure in Cambodian politics, his remarks should be treated as carrying official weight rather than as a personal opinion. He criticised Hun Sen's call for regime change as a serious breach of diplomatic ethics and an overt interference in Thailand's internal affairs -- especially considering the comments were framed as an attempt to mend bilateral relations. Mr Somchai also condemned Hun Sen's claim that Cambodia had assisted fugitive former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra with her travels to Malaysia and Singapore, saying such actions would constitute a violation of Thai law. While no statements directly breached Thailand's lese-majeste law, Mr Somchai said several remarks made during the livestream could be interpreted as threats -- including a claim that Cambodia possesses weapons capable of launching missiles directly at Bangkok.
Bangkok Post
14 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Opposition leader says Hun Sen fears collapse of ‘criminal' regime
Thailand is not rooted in patriotism but in fear of the potential collapse of a regime 'deeply entangled with international criminal networks', says exiled Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy. 'Hun Sen's current fury toward Thailand stems not from national pride, but from the growing threat to the illicit revenue streams that sustain his power — namely, criminal syndicates controlled by the Chinese mafia and operating along Cambodia's borders. These networks are now facing an unprecedented crackdown by the Thai authorities,' Sam Rainsy wrote in a statement posted on his X account. He was responding to a series of statements by the former Cambodian premier, which culminated in a three-hour televised tirade on Friday against Thailand and what he called 'betrayal' by the family of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. 'Hun Sen's anti-Thai rhetoric is nothing more than a political smokescreen,' he said. 'While he presents the dispute as one of historical grievance and national dignity, the real motive behind his indignation is Thailand's concerted effort to dismantle Chinese-run cyber-scam operations based in border areas — operations that have become a vital source of illicit funding for the current Phnom Penh regime.' Previous investigations — by Reuters in 2019 and Global Witness in 2016 — have documented how the Hun family and its associates have amassed vast personal fortunes to the detriment of the country's population. (Story continues below) A co-founder of the now-dissolved Cambodian National Rescue Party, Sam Rainsy has lived in self-exile in Paris since 2015. He attempted to return to Cambodia in 2019 but was barred from boarding a flight from Paris because Thai authorities would not let him transit through Bangkok. In his statement on Saturday, Sam Rainsy said the scam industry was estimated to generate at least $12 billion annually — nearly half of Cambodia's GDP. 'With traditional sources of revenue such as the exploitation of natural resources and the granting of land concessions depleted by years of systemic corruption, the regime has grown increasingly reliant on these criminal enterprises. Thailand's crackdown represents a direct threat to this financial lifeline,' he said. Hun Sen has used nationalist sentiment to distract the public and rally support before, the opposition figure said, pointing to a 'fabricated controversy' involving a Thai actress that led to deadly riots in Phnom Penh in 2003. 'In 2011, he used a border conflict at the Preah Vihear temple to deflect attention from domestic discontent. In both instances, nationalism served as a tool to mask political vulnerability,' he wrote. Hun Sen's fury on Thailand stems from the Thai determination to defeat the organized crime in #Cambodia which sustains his regime. His nationalist rhetoric is designed to distract the public. #SamRainsy — Rainsy Sam (@RainsySam) June 28, 2025
Bangkok Post
15 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Protesters demand Thai PM's ouster over leaked call
Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Victory Monument in Bangkok on Saturday demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra over a leaked phone call between her and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. The gathering, the largest anti-government protest since the Pheu Thai Party came to power in 2023, was led by the Ruam Palang Paendin Pokpong Athipatai (United Power of the Land to Protect Sovereignty). People waving Thai flags began arriving at the site at 9am. Activities began with a merit-making ceremony, followed by the group leaders taking turns giving speeches and musicians performing on the stage facing Din Daeng Road. The listed speakers included renowned political activists Jatuporn Prompan, Panthep Puaponfpan, Phichit Chaimongkol and Sondhi Limthongkul. They are scheduled to give speeches in the evening after a mass singing of the Thai national anthem at 6pm, which they said would be a symbolic act to demonstrate unity in defending Thai sovereignty over the border. The rally is scheduled to conclude at 9pm, with the leaders promising police they would not stay overnight. Security measures in place Police were stationed throughout the area, including along the skywalks where crowds of general people and press were seen flocking in to witness the large rally site. The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) estimated at 11am that there were about 1,000 protesters on the site. Police on Friday said they expected 5,000 people there by later in the afternoon, while organisers are expecting twice that number. Over 200 CCTV cameras and drones, operated by the police, are monitoring the area, with Explosive Ordnance Disposal units and eight K9 dogs on patrol. Four ambulances were on standby for any emergency. Nearby hospitals are Police General Hospital, Phramongkutklao Hospital and Rajavithi Hospital. Officers confiscated one Sparta knife and three cutters from motorcycle delivery riders at a checkpoint at the Phahon Yothin Soi 2, one of five checkpoints set up in the area. Legal action was taken against them, police said. Officers are committed to maintaining peace and safety for all parties, said Pol Maj Gen Teeradej Thamsuthee, the MPB commander. He cautioned the public, whether joining or not joining the protest, not to carry weapons while travelling through the area. More protesters travelling to Bangkok In Nakhon Ratchasima, about 200 gathered at the Thao Suranari Monument, or Ya Mo Plaza, in Muang district and boarded four tour buses and two vans bound for Bangkok on Saturday morning. They were led by Supot Piriyakiatsakul, the provincial leader of the People's Patriotic Network. 'We are determined to fight to the very end to remove Paetongtarn from office,' Mr Supot said. In Phitsanulok, 80 people departed in a tour bus and three vans, heading to the capital. The group wore colourful shirts and carried a variety of Thai-flagged items. Ms Paetongtarn, who was in Chiang Rai to inspect the severe flooding situation, told reporters she had instructed security authorities to monitor the situation. 'It is their right to protest, and I personally have no intention to respond,' she said, and affirmed that she was open to talks if the protest group wanted to hold a peaceful discussion.
