Ultimate goal of science is to improve human life: Lecturer Bui Xuan Canh

After graduating as an information technology engineer, Bui Xuan Canh had many opportunities to work for major corporations. However, he chose to remain at Lac Hong University as a lecturer. Since then, he has won numerous domestic and international awards in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).

In an interview with reporters from Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television, young lecturer Bui Xuan Canh shared that his burning aspiration is to freely experiment with technological ideas and then bring them back to serve human life. When an individual is placed in the right environment and follows the right direction, their success can help transform the face of an entire collective and community.

Platform for personal growth

Despite many opportunities at major corporations, you chose to stay in Dong Nai. Was that because of your attachment to this place and your belief that you could best utilize your strengths and capabilities here?

I chose to stay in Dong Nai and dedicate myself to Lac Hong University. This land and this university witnessed my persistent efforts throughout my undergraduate years. Remaining here was not about seeking comfort; it was because I wanted to build a “launchpad” with my own hands in the place where I grew and matured. I wanted to prove what many consider impossible: that an individual, even without a luxurious environment or million-dollar laboratories, can conduct research independently and master technology through perseverance and a clear sense of purpose.

The university has always stood behind me, offering the best possible support within its capacity, giving me my space to freely develop my strengths, experiment with bold ideas, and step forward to protect me when I face failure.

Lecturer Bui Xuan Canh guides students during a research project.

What have been the defining milestones in your journey from student to lecturer?

Becoming a lecturer was never part of my original plan. Like many information technology students, my greatest ambition was to work for a major technology company after graduation, working on high-value commercial projects.

However, everything changed as I approached graduation. Having recently been a student myself, I clearly understood what students aspired to and what they feared in the age of AI. At that moment, I decided to set aside personal ambitions for a greater mission: to remain and help guide the next generation of students. I do not merely repeat existing knowledge; I bring the enthusiasm of a young lecturer to help students transform the university’s strong academic foundation into a powerful tool, enabling them to enter the world with confidence.

You, your colleagues, and your students have won domestic and international technology awards. Could you share more about these achievements?

It has been a long journey. Every program and every medal earned in domestic and international competitions represents a moment when I had to push myself beyond my limits.

On the international stage, a major milestone was winning First Prize at the Intel® AI Global Impact Festival 2025 with “Your Voice,” an AI-driven system designed to remove communication barriers for vulnerable communities. Building on that achievement, we traveled to the Middle East and won the Silver Award at the Global Best M-Gov Award 2026 at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, UAE. We also impressed judges in China by winning the Special Award at the Huashang Innovative Mini Game Challenge 2025. Domestically, we have received several awards for startup ideas, scientific research, and technical innovation.

What matters most is not the number of awards but the philosophy of scientific research, linked to social responsibility, that our group pursues. What we gain from it is maturity in professional resolve and the ability to shape the younger generation's mindset.

No matter how advanced technology becomes, if it does not improve people’s lives or address human challenges, it remains disconnected and without purpose.

Regarding “Your Voice,” what were your objectives for this project, and what benefits does the application provide?

When I wrote the first lines of code for “Your Voice,” my objective was simple and sincere. I wanted to find a breakthrough technological solution to break down communication barriers that separate the deaf community from society and help them access better opportunities in life.

That motivation came after I witnessed the difficulties faced by a person with hearing and speech impairments who struggled to communicate with my team at an event. That invisible yet painful distance made me realize that, as an AI researcher, if I did not use technology to help address such social challenges, my work would have little meaning.

Standing on the stage in Dubai to receive the Silver Award at the Global Best M-Gov Award 2026, I understood that the recognition was for both an outstanding AI algorithm and a technological solution built on compassion, especially as I saw the Vietnamese flag. The greatest reward is the trust and happiness of members of the deaf community when they discover their own “voice” through our technology.

Youth – time for action and contribution

AI is often described as the technology of the future. What is your ultimate goal in exploring, researching, and applying AI?

AI is often called the technology of the future, but that future has already arrived. Therefore, research should not remain theoretical; it must be centered on people. This means bringing technology into practical life and turning it into products that directly serve society.

My greatest aspiration is to see the Your Voice system available in every hospital and public agency so that deaf people no longer feel isolated. I also hope that my AI-based Braille book system will reach every visually impaired child across Vietnam, ensuring equal access to knowledge.

Have the achievements gained in recent times become a motivation for you to stay committed, go further, and affirm the intellect of young people?

These achievements are only the first building blocks. Young researchers face considerable pressure and skepticism. Every success strengthens my confidence and determination to tackle more difficult challenges. As a young lecturer, I want to use my experience to send a message to students: Although young people may lack resources or begin from modest circumstances, with sufficient passion and perseverance, we can achieve technological mastery and engage with the world on equal footing.

Based on your experience, how can choosing the right strategic direction in training and the right learning environment create value beyond the individual?

When an individual is placed in the right environment and follows the right direction, the value they create extends far beyond personal success. It generates a ripple effect that can transform a collective and a community. If I had chosen to leave years ago, I might have limited my value to a high salary and commercial projects that benefited a corporation. By staying, I have had the opportunity to help young people build confidence in their abilities and foster creativity.

That is where the value surpasses the individual. Through sustained effort and strategic direction, a research ecosystem is gradually taking shape. Today, students are winning prestigious international awards, developing innovative mindsets, and becoming more confident and dynamic as they compete with peers from around the world. These are invaluable collective achievements that no individual could accomplish alone.

By Vuong The – Translated by Minh Hong, Minho