Microsoft recently released the 2024 Job Trends Index report under the theme "Bringing Artificial Intelligence to Work, What Challenges Await." To gain deeper insights into the current status of AI utilization in the workplace, VietNamNet engaged in a conversation with Ms. Nguyen Quynh Tram, General Director of Microsoft Vietnam.

2024 marks the fourth consecutive year of Microsoft's release of the Job Trends Index report. Could you please share how the work landscape has evolved over the past four years?

Ms. Nguyen Quynh Tram: Four years ago, in 2021, when the world had to respond to Covid-19, Microsoft began implementing the "Job Trends Index Report." This inaugural report showcased a new breakthrough in the hybrid work model.

Subsequently, the 2022 report highlighted shifts in trends and employee and leadership expectations related to the hybrid work model. Given the swift advancement of AI, the 2023 report explored whether AI would alter the nature of work. And this year's report distinctly illustrates the trend of AI utilization in the workplace and the challenges confronting business leaders and organizations.

Generative AI tools are gaining popularity in the workplace. Many employees are proactively adopting flexible and innovative AI tools, rather than waiting for the organization to develop a specific AI implementation plan and roadmap.

This is because AI aids in time-saving, boosts creativity, and enables them to concentrate on essential tasks. Our latest survey findings reveal that 88% of knowledge workers in Vietnam utilize Generative AI at work, with 93% of AI users starting their day with AI regularly, and 94% relying on AI to prepare for the following day.

The above reality poses new challenges for business leaders, urging them to accelerate the application and understanding of AI, creating a working environment that applies AI in a useful and controlled way so that employees and organizations can increase labor productivity and achieve higher efficiency in work. Moreover, the deployment of Generative AI tools is necessary for businesses to reap benefits in both work productivity and information processing speed in operations.

The recently released Microsoft survey reveals a significant statistic: up to 70% of AI users in Vietnam are utilizing personal AI tools. What are your thoughts on this finding?

Ms. Nguyen Quynh Tram: I see these statistical figures from two perspectives. On one hand, it demonstrates a positive outlook as intellectual workers in Vietnam are not only open-minded but also proactive in adopting AI. Even when businesses or organizations are not fully prepared to implement AI, individuals are finding ways to incorporate AI to assist them in their daily tasks. However, this also poses a challenge for businesses because this reality may result in missing out on the benefits of implementing AI on a broader and strategic scale, while also increasing the risk of data security breaches for the enterprise.

I think that business leaders need to seize this opportunity to turn motivation into investment returns. Because AI is not the future anymore, but the present. Leaders should start now, maybe with small projects, to understand how AI can help them in their investment and development plans.

So why is the percentage of Vietnamese business leaders who believe that their units need to apply AI very high, but the percentage of leaders who encourage employees to use AI is low?

Ms. Nguyen Quynh Tram: Our survey data shows that the level of interest of Vietnamese business leaders in AI is very high: 89% of leaders believe that their companies need to apply AI to maintain competitiveness; 76% of leaders said they would not hire people without AI skills.

However, there is still a gap between interest and action. The percentage of Vietnamese business leaders who encourage employees to use AI is lower compared to the global average, indicating hesitancy or a lack of time for leaders to learn and utilize AI themselves before encouraging and inspiring their employees.

AI is essentially like any other technology product, a tool to assist leaders in achieving their goals. It's crucial for leaders to have a clear understanding of the objectives they aim to accomplish and to develop specific plans and strategies for implementation. To put it figuratively, AI is akin to riding a bicycle; one must get on it, possibly stumble a few times, but eventually, they'll master it and reach their intended destination.

What advice do you have for business leaders to effectively deploy AI applications?

Ms. Nguyen Quynh Tram: First and foremost, leaders should set clear goals for their organizations. Depending on the scale and needs of the organization, deploying AI step by step and optimizing deployment for job functions will yield the fastest return on investment.

In addition, they ought to enhance skills training, dedicate time to experimenting and educating employees on effective AI usage. Embracing a growth mindset involves fostering an environment where employees can experiment, share ideas, including failed AI experiments, and exchange successes and lessons learned. Empowering employees with AI and promoting the development of 'AI Champion' models are also essential steps.

Lastly, and perhaps most crucially, leaders must shift their mindset, seeing AI as a novel approach and tool for work, rather than merely a means to reduce short-term staff. Instead of using AI solely to expedite current tasks, it should be regarded as a means to accomplish objectives previously deemed unattainable.

Van Anh