What did VinAI have before being acquired by Qualcomm?

Dr. Bui Hai Hung is a key leader of VinAI . Photo: VinAI .

VinAI was founded in 2019, led by Dr. Bui Hai Hung, who worked for many years at Google DeepMind. Initially, the company operated as a research institute under VinTech, part of the VinGroup ecosystem. From academic research, VinAI gradually became more deeply involved in the group's products, contributing to the Vsmart mobile segment and VinFast cars.

This is one of the leading artificial intelligence development units in Vietnam, with high-quality human resources. VinAI also has access to hardware from Nvidia, supercomputers to train models.

Contribute to VinGroup ecosystem

On mobile, VinAI successfully researched a solution to unlock faces when users wear masks. The tool was developed in 2020, during the Covid-19 outbreak, making smartphone security difficult for users.

By the end of 2020, they cooperated with Vsmart to launch the under-display camera technology (CUD). The solution helps the phone screen to have no more defects. Later, it was equipped on the Aris Pro line.

Vsmart Aris Pro, a phone that applies VinAI's under-screen camera technology. Photo: Nhat Minh.

As the group shifts to smart electric vehicles, VinAI also makes an important contribution to product software. They introduced three smart technologies including driver monitoring, 360-degree panoramic observation and L2+ self-driving in 2021. These solutions are now available on VinFast electric vehicles.

By 2024, they introduced MirorSence. The technology uses cameras to record the driver's head direction and field of view in real time. Based on this information, a mechanical system will adjust the rearview mirror to ensure the best view.

Before being acquired by Qualcomm for its artificial intelligence division, VinAI introduced its two main products, Interiosense (in-car AI) and Surroudsense (out-of-car AI). Some solutions have been applied to VinFast cars such as self-driving, distraction warning, underbody cameras, etc. However, new functions such as automatic parking have not been applied yet.

VinAI is also the Vietnamese representative continuously present at CES since 2022. Many products of this organization are highly appreciated and awarded for innovation.

Machine learning and generative AI

In addition to the applied AI segment, serving products in the VinGroup ecosystem, VinAI also develops in the academic and artificial intelligence segments.

In 2022, Thundermark Capital ranked VinAI in the top 20 AI research companies globally. Specifically, the representative from Vietnam ranked right after NEC (Japan - 19th), above Bosch (Germany - 21st) and many big names such as ByteDance (China - 23rd), SenseTime (China - 27th) and Naver (Korea - 28th).

PhoGPT is published as open source on GitHub.

VinAI's strength lies in nearly 200 scientists and engineers who have established a foothold in the world's artificial intelligence industry, led by Dr. Bui Hai Hung. In addition, strong support from Vingroup Corporation also helps VinAI soon own the region's leading supercomputer system DGX SuperPOD.

VinAI's research focuses on three main directions: machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing. This is an important premise for the future application of generative AI. In 2023, VinAI launched the open-source large language model project PhoGPT. This is one of the first LLMs in Vietnam, trained based on the Vietnamese data warehouse, for domestic users.

Source: https://znews.vn/vinai-co-gi-truoc-khi-duoc-qualcomm-mua-lai-post1542768.html