Vietnam leads ASEAN in the proportion of AI pioneers

According to the 2026 Job Trend Index Report published by Microsoft Vietnam, Vietnamese workers are moving quickly in the journey of applying artificial intelligence (AI) to work.

The report is based on analyzing trillions of anonymous productivity signals from Microsoft 365 and surveying 2,000 knowledge workers in Vietnam.

The results show that Vietnam currently leads ASEAN in the proportion of AI pioneers (Frontier Professionals), with 39% of the workforce belonging to this group. This is significantly higher than the global average of 16%.

AI pioneers are understood to be the most proficient users of AI according to research. They not only use AI for basic tasks, but have integrated this technology into more complex tasks such as analyzing information, solving problems, evaluating options and developing creative ideas.

Vietnamese workers transform quickly with AI

The report shows that Vietnamese workers are proactively taking advantage of AI to improve work efficiency, instead of just seeing this technology as an automatic response tool.

Up to 89% of AI users in Vietnam said they view results generated by AI as a foundation for deeper thinking, instead of considering it as the final answer. This rate is higher than the global average of 86%.

This shows that workers still play an active role in the evaluation, analysis and decision-making process. AI does not completely replace human thinking, but is contributing to expanding the working capacity of each individual.

This change also produces tangible results in practice. According to the report, 76% of AI users in Vietnam said they are creating products and work results that they could not achieve a year ago. This rate is significantly higher than the global average of 58%.

With a group of pioneering AI personnel in Vietnam, this number increases to 83%.

Another notable point is that the pioneering human resources team does not completely leave their work to AI. Compared to the remaining group of AI users, they tend to proactively perform some tasks without using AI to practice and improve their professional skills, at a rate of 57% compared to 41%.

These figures show that Vietnamese workers are not only adopting AI quickly, but are also forming new ways of working, in which humans play the role of direction, quality control, and ultimate responsibility.

The paradox of transformation in business

Although Vietnamese workers are showing rapid adaptation, the report also points out a paradox in the AI ​​transformation process at businesses.

According to Microsoft, 48% of AI users in Vietnam said the leadership team in their organization has a clear and consistent direction towards AI. This is almost double the global average of 26%.

However, behind the positive signals is the growing pressure to adapt. More than 4 in 5 AI users in Vietnam, equivalent to 82%, said they are worried about falling behind if they do not quickly adapt and apply AI to their work. Globally, this rate is 65%.

This situation leads to what Microsoft calls the “Transformation Paradox”. Workers feel pressure to quickly adapt to AI to maintain competitiveness, while surrounding factors such as evaluation systems, incentive mechanisms, operating standards and organizational processes have not yet kept pace with that change.

In other words, workers are running faster than their organizations in the AI ​​adoption journey.

Mr. Dhanawat Suthumpun, Managing Director of Microsoft Thailand and emerging markets, including Vietnam, commented that the speed of AI application in Vietnam reflects the great potential of the workforce and the economy in seizing new opportunities from technology.

However, he believes that technology cannot create transformation on its own. As workers become increasingly proficient and proactive in exploiting new capabilities brought about by AI, leaders need to ensure that operating systems and management methods are also innovated accordingly.

According to a Microsoft representative, the leading organizations in the AI ​​era will be those that know how to leverage AI to reshape the way work is done, open up new productivity models and create more value for both employees and customers.