AI has become a foundational technology for business strategies, and companies increasingly feel the urgency to adopt and implement AI.

Nguyen Thi Thuy, a senior lecturer in AI at RMIT University Vietnam, predicted recently that by 2030, AI will automate 30 percent of working hours in the US, with Agentic AI anticipated to take on most office tasks in the next decade. 

AI is evolving at a breakneck pace, and Agentic AI is at the forefront of this revolution.

Thuy explained that Agentic AI and Generative AI are two distinct directions of AI application development, each of which has unique roles and uses.

While Generative AI focuses on creating content—such as text, images, or code—by learning from existing data and generating new outputs that mimic human thinking, Agentic AI aims at autonomy, not just reacting but also making decisions and taking actions to complete tasks.

“Agentic AI is applied in the fields requiring real-world problem-solving, such as autonomous robots, smart virtual assistants, or complex process management. It is often built on Generative AI with added components like memory, scheduling, and decision-making capabilities. While Generative AI is the content writer, Agentic AI is the decision-maker and executor working toward set goals,” Thuy said.

Stressing that Agentic AI is revolutionizing industries, Thuy said in healthcare, Agentic AI can personalize treatment plans and support real-time decision-making.

This technology can monitor a patient’s health metrics in real time, identify potential complications before they become severe, and suggest preventive measures.

Manufacturing will benefit from AI-driven production lines and predictive maintenance. Some tech firms like Siemens have already applied AI to predict equipment failures, reducing downtime and extending machinery lifespan.

Retail and e-commerce will see innovations in inventory management and personalizing shopping experiences.

“Though many Agentic AI applications are still under experiment or pilot phases, industries are increasingly putting this technology into practical use,” Thuy added.

Businesses need to invest in AI

The “AI Readiness Index” report released by Cisco at the end of 2024 revealed that in Vietnam, 100 percent of surveyed businesses said they have high demand for deploying AI, driven primarily by CEOs and leadership teams.

Additionally, businesses are committing significant resources to AI, with 48 percent of companies reporting that 10-30 percent of their IT budgets are allocated to AI deployment.

Cisco experts also noted that to fully harness AI’s potential, businesses need a modern digital infrastructure capable of meeting the growing energy demands and low-latency requirements for the increasing workloads of AI processing.

Emphasizing the rise of Agentic AI and its profound impact on industries, RMIT Vietnam expert Nguyen Thi Thuy recommended that Vietnamese businesses embrace this technology by investing in AI-driven innovation, upskilling their workforce, and fostering strategic partnerships.

“These efforts will not only enhance competitiveness but also ensure sustainable and inclusive economic growth in the digital era,” the RMIT Vietnam expert said.

However, she noted that alongside its remarkable benefits, integrating Agentic AI into business operations raises ethical and practical concerns that need consideration. Ensuring data privacy and security is a critical requirement as AI systems handle sensitive information.

“Businesses also need to address the risk of job displacement due to automation while investing in retraining programs to prepare employees for new roles in an AI-driven work environment,” she cautioned.

Experts and businesses at recent events have all affirmed the important role of AI in human life and at work. This technology is being applied across various aspects of life, contributing to solving unique challenges for the country.

They noted that AI is appearing everywhere and making everything smarter. In fact, some people use OpenAI’s chatbot more frequently than Google.

“The upcoming era will be the era of AI,” Nguyen Khac Lich, Director of the Department of IT and Communications Industry, said at a seminar in January.

He said that one of the strategic AI technologies for Vietnam will be the Vietnamese Large Language Model (LLM). "When we have Vietnamese LLM, Vietnam’s virtual assistants will understand Vietnamese culture better than ChatGPT or other foreign chatbots."

While the keyword of 2024 was generative AI, the theme of 2025 is Agentic AI, a type of AI capable of automating tasks, working independently, and replacing humans in certain roles.

Phuong Thuy