On Tuesday, August 18, 2026, more than 1,000 business leaders, technology pioneers, startup founders, investors, policymakers, and innovators gathered at The Future of Artificial Intelligence: Chapter 4 in Ho Chi Minh City.
The event was co-organised by JDI and Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam, with support from the NVIDIA AI Technology Centre (NVAITC) and Singapore Global Network, and presented by Alibaba Cloud.
This year’s edition carried even greater significance. Beyond exploring the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence with 30+ speakers and 20+ exhibitors, the event marked JDI’s 10th anniversary, celebrating a decade dedicated to empowering businesses, accelerating innovation, and strengthening Vietnam’s position as one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing technology ecosystems.
Guests checking in early for the event. (Photo: JDI)
Attendees queuing to enter the venue for The Future of Artificial Intelligence: Chapter 4. (Photo: JDI)
Participants getting to know each other while discussing the latest AI developments. (Photo: JDI)
Attendees posing for a group photo with JDI’s tote bag gifts. (Photo: JDI)
Opening the Future of Innovation With AI
Mr. Frank Lee, Managing Director at JDI, and Dr. Ng Aik Beng, Regional Manager at NVIDIA AI Technology Center (NVAITC), welcomed the enthusiastic attendees before introducing the day’s agenda. The occasion also marked the unveiling of JDI’s 10th anniversary theme: “The Next Decade of Innovation.”
“The Future of Artificial Intelligence: Chapter 4, in 2026, is about activities and creating real value. The question in every boardroom has changed. It is no longer, “Should we pay attention to AI?” It is, “How do we actually put it to work, and see ROI?” That is the heart of this year’s event. Creating business value through AI adoption. Real adoption, real outcomes, real returns.” Mr. Frank Lee proudly shared.
Mr. Frank Lee opening the event and unveiling the 10th anniversary theme. (Photo: JDI)
Dr. Ng Aik Beng reflecting on three consecutive years of partnership with the event. (Photo: JDI)
Following the opening remarks, Mr. Pang Te Cheng, Consulate-General, Republic of Singapore in Ho Chi Minh City, addressed the audience, sharing his perspective on Vietnam’s accelerating AI momentum and the importance of continued collaboration between public institutions, private enterprises, academia, and international partners.
Mr. Pang Te Cheng delivering his speech. (Photo: JDI)
Innovation in Action Across the Exhibition Floor
Throughout the day, the exhibition hall remained one of the event’s most vibrant destinations, attracting a constant stream of business leaders, technology buyers, startup founders, investors, and industry professionals eager to experience AI beyond presentations and PowerPoint slides.
Attendees experiencing the latest AI solutions at the Exhibition Zone. (Photo: JDI)
Leaders having discussions and exchanging insights. (Photo: JDI)
Featuring innovative companies from sectors including manufacturing, finance, retail, e-commerce, logistics, healthcare, real estate, and enterprise technology, the exhibition showcased how organizations are already embedding AI into everyday operations to improve productivity, streamline workflows, enhance customer experiences, and unlock new sources of competitive advantage.
An exhibitor demonstrating an AI solution. (Photo: JDI)
An attendee exchanging contact information with an exhibitor while learning about their AI solutions. (Photo: JDI)
In its 4th chapter, the event introduced a unique Discussion Zone within the exhibition area, creating a more engaging space for visitors to have deeper conversations about the solutions they were interested in, while allowing exhibitors to further showcase and pitch their offerings.
The Discussion Zone brimming with enthusiasm. (Photo: JDI)
Business leaders showing interest in exhibitors’ solutions. (Photo: JDI)
Mr. Pang Te Cheng touring the exhibition alongside Mr. Frank Lee. (Photo: JDI)
Celebrating Ten Years Through the JDI Zone
Making its debut this year, the JDI Zone offered attendees an opportunity to engage directly with the specialists behind JDI’s three core business pillars—Talent JDI, Tech JDI, and JDI Central—each designed to help organizations navigate different stages of innovation and business growth.
Attendees discussing AI readiness with JDI’s consulting team. (Photo: JDI)
To commemorate this milestone, JDI also unveiled its limited-edition 10th Anniversary Package, offering exclusive opportunities for both new and existing clients seeking to strengthen their teams, accelerate AI adoption, or access strategic capital as they prepare for the next stage of growth.
More information is available via [email protected].
Business leaders exploring recruitment strategies with Talent JDI. (Photo: JDI)
Tech JDI’s expert showing attendees the latest AI product. (Photo: JDI)
Central JDI’s booth was buzzing with meaningful connections. (Photo: JDI)
Conversations That Will Shape AI’s Next Chapter
Beyond the exhibition and networking spaces, the heart of The Future of Artificial Intelligence: Chapter 4 unfolded in the conference hall, where some of the region’s most respected business leaders, AI practitioners, researchers, and technology experts came together on a single stage.
Prof. Ian McLoughlin (Singapore Institute of Technology) opening with a presentation about the future of AI. (Photo: JDI Group)
Assoc. Prof. Le Hoanh Su (University of Economics and Law) highlighting the key bottlenecks SMEs face in embracing AI. (Photo: JDI Group)
From left to right: Ms. Tammy Thi Phan (Blue Valley Partners) as our moderator, Mr. Peter Dang (Alibaba Cloud), Mr. Jeremy Foo (Alpha Story), and Mr. Nguyen Tuan Huy (Google Cloud) as guest speakers. (Photo: JDI)
From left to right: Mr. Le Thanh Son (OpenAI Codex) as our moderator, with Ms. Rebecca Joy (Saigon A.I.), Ph.D Tony Tran (TOTM Labs), and Ms. Quynh Pham (EPI) as guest speakers. (Photo: JDI)
From left to right: Mr. Hussein Sulaiman (JDI) as our moderator, Mr. Phuc Le (VSAP Lab), Ms. Thuy Ho (Sunwah Group Vietnam), and Mr. Alan Kueh (BuildBob) as guest speakers. (Photo: JDI)
From left to right: Dr. Ng Aik Beng (NVIDIA AI Technology Center) as our moderator, Assoc. Prof. Adams Kong (Nanyang Technological University), Prof. Dr. Peerapon Vateekul (Chulalongkorn University), Prof. Shonali Krishnaswamy (Monash University), and Dr. Trinh Quang Viet (University of Economics and Law) as guest speakers. (Photo: JDI)
From left to right: Mr. Nguyen Van Chuong (Swiss EP Vietnam · YBA Da Nang) as our moderator, Mr. Seck Yee Chung (Baker & McKenzie (VN)), Dr. Mark Shmulevich (Aloniq), and Mr. Minh Nguyen Hoang (Harley Miller Law Firm) as guest speakers. (Photo: JDI)
From left to right: Mr. Luke Treloar (KPMG Vietnam) as our moderator, Ms. Cam Van Bui (Buymed), and Ms. Rina Rudyanto (Siloam Hospitals Group) as guest speakers. (Photo: JDI)
Audience taking photos of insightful data shown on screen. (Photo: JDI)
Audience listening to the keynote speakers. (Photo: JDI)
AI Startups Took the Spotlight
The event lit up with a Startup Pitching Showcase, featuring six promising AI startups presenting their solutions to a panel of VC judges and the audience. In partnership with Microsoft, the showcase awarded USD 200,000 in Microsoft Azure Cloud Credits across the VC Judges’ Choice and Audience Choice awards, celebrating the next generation of AI innovation.
JDI team and judges celebrating the award with Alpha Story. (Photo: JDI)
Where AI Conversations Became Personal
While the main conference brought together more than 1,000 participants to explore the future of artificial intelligence, Tea & Jam offered a more intimate setting for executive-level conversations. As an exclusive, invitation-only roundtable, it allowed business leaders to exchange ideas, discuss real challenges, and learn from organizations already putting AI into practice.
Mr. Vulcan Zhao, CTO at A1P, conducting the opening remarks. (Photo: JDI)
From left to right: Mr. Gabe Hollombe (Microsoft for Startups), Mr. Antron Lim (Microsoft for Startups), and Mr. Duy Doan (Magnitudeminds) leading the discussion. (Photo: JDI)
A participant giving the panelists questions. (Photo: JDI)
The experience featured valuable curated sessions, led by experts from Microsoft for Startups, A1P, Saigon A.I., and Magnitudeminds. Conversations centered on practical AI adoption—from governance and implementation to scaling AI across the enterprise. The small-group format encouraged candid dialogue, meaningful networking, and the sharing of real-world experiences, giving attendees actionable insights they could apply within their own organizations.
Business leaders participating in facilitated roundtable conversations. (Photo: JDI)
Experts exchanging perspectives on AI adoption and implementation. (Photo: JDI)
Turning AI Ambitions Into Investment Opportunities
One of the most anticipated additions to Chapter 4 was the introduction of JDI’s official Investor Networking Programme—a dedicated initiative designed to create meaningful connections between high-potential startups and active venture capital investors from across Southeast Asia.
One-on-one investor meetings in progress. (Photo: JDI)
Venture capital firms participated in the programme, meeting with startups across sectors such as fintech, healthtech, enterprise AI, retail technology, logistics, and climate innovation.
Startup founder presenting to venture capital investors. (Photo: JDI)
Founders and investors discussing growth opportunities following their pitching sessions. (Photo: JDI)
A Glimpse into the Future of Artificial Intelligence
The Future of Artificial Intelligence: Chapter 4 concluded on a high note, successfully bringing together tech experts, industry leaders, aspiring entrepreneurs, and key stakeholders to unveil AI’s full potential in revolutionizing how we work and live.
From left to right: Mr. Frank Lee, Mr. Pang Te Cheng, Dr. Ng Aik Beng, Mr. Hussein Sulaiman, and our attendees. (Photo: JDI)
Mr. Frank Lee, Managing Director at JDI, remarked, “We began today by grounding in the real world: how universities and industry can work together to move companies, even smaller ones, from digital to true AI transformation, and how applied research is turning into industry impact. From there, we saw agentic AI running real work inside businesses, we dug into the data that powers these models, and we explored how AI is building smarter cities. We heard how it is reshaping healthcare, we talked honestly about the governance to keep it all on track, and we watched new startups showing us what comes next. What a day!”
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam (HKBAV), NVIDIA AI Technology Centre (NVAITC), Singapore Global Network (SGN), Alibaba Cloud, and A1P, and all our esteemed sponsors, partners, speakers, exhibitors, and organizations who supported us in this remarkable event.
Looking ahead, JDI is dedicated to being a driving force in advancing a thriving AI ecosystem and shaping its future through our series of inspiring events and strategic collaborations.
The JDI team celebrating another successful event, filled with exciting AI activities and memorable moments. (Photo: JDI Group)
About Us
JDI is a venture catalyst driving forward the future of innovation. Since 2016, we’ve jumpstarted the exponential growth of innovative companies, empowering them with strategic knowledge and resources to build and scale their disruptive innovations in Vietnam and, eventually, the world.
Ten years in, JDI operates across three service lines — Talent JDI, Tech JDI, and Capital JDI — helping companies build Vietnam-based tech teams, get AI-ready, and raise or deploy capital, empowering enterprises, startups, and investors to accelerate growth and digital transformation across Southeast Asia.
If you are interested in our programme or our services, please don’t hesitate to visit us at our website or contact us at [email protected] for a free consultation.