Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, Chairwoman of Sovico Group and Vietjet Air, delivered a compelling address at the 3rd UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Bangkok, emphasizing the critical need for a human-centered and ethical approach to AI development. Her impassioned speech, delivered on June 26, 2025, underscored the responsibility of global leaders to ensure AI serves humanity and fosters a more inclusive world.
The forum, which convened over 800 leaders, experts, and scholars from UNESCO’s 194 member states from June 24-27, aimed to forge ethical frameworks for the rapidly evolving field of AI. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay opened the event, highlighting AI’s transformative impact on human life and calling for collective reflection guided by shared values.
Dr. Thao, a prominent Vietnamese billionaire and a PhD in automation, presented a unique perspective, stating, “I come here today not only as a businesswoman top a global airline and digital bank… but first and foremost as a mother. 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 elaborated on how her ventures, like Vietjet Air, have provided unprecedented opportunities for millions to access education, healthcare, and employment, and how her digital banking platform, Vikki, has empowered rural women and students. “AI must be a tool for equity,” Dr. Thao asserted. “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.”
Dr. Thao further stressed the importance of upholding equality and dignity in the age of AI, famously remarking, “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.” She urged for a broader vision of AI, viewing it not merely as a tool, but as a commitment guided by compassion and integrity.
In a concrete step towards this vision, Dr. Thao pledged financial and operational support for international initiatives, including a proposed “Fair Data Fund” to provide transparent, unbiased, and multilingual data for training AI systems, particularly in developing countries. She also advocated for expanding policymaking spaces for women, girls, and marginalized groups, empowering them as co-creators of the digital future.
Dr. Thao’s remarks resonated with UNESCO’s long-standing commitment to ethical AI, building upon its 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence – the first and only global normative framework on AI ethics. Her call for global collaboration and a human-centric approach reinforces the forum’s overarching goal: to ensure AI’s immense potential is harnessed for the benefit of all, leaving no one behind.
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