A2A Circle #45: From Disruption to Reinvention

Beyond the hype surrounding AI, our latest A2A event brought industry leaders, RMIT researchers, lecturers and staff together to explore how AI is reshaping business practices, decision-making and personal growth.

On Friday, 16 October – RMIT Alumni Relations team hosted the 45th edition of the A2A Circle event series titled A2A Circle: From Disruption to Reinvention, opening the floor to dynamic conversations on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being applied across industries and integrated into everyday professional and personal journeys.

Identifying the Right Approach to AI

Opening the discussion, Mr. Duy Dang, Associate Head of Department, Research and Innovation at RMIT Vietnam, outlined five key considerations for AI implementation: identifying the right tasks, ensuring data security, improving team productivity, maintaining output quality and measuring outcomes.

Drawing on his current work at RMIT Vietnam, Mr. Duy highlighted the importance of evaluating these opportunities and challenges for AI adoption in a real-world setting, driven by the case studies from our guest speakers.

The Case Studies That Resonate

As our speakers shared real-world applications of AI, the conversation sparked questions and perspectives from the audience, revealing how adoption can take different forms depending on diverse business contexts and individual needs.

Mr. Vinh Nguyen, Managing Director of Tuan Loc Commodities, emphasised that while AI can support the initial stages of a task, decision-making ultimately remains human-centered. He also highlighted the importance of ethical practice when evaluating AI-generated information and outcomes.

“Before you call it your own, you need to read, understand and agree with AI,” Mr. Vinh remarked, underscoring the need to approach AI critically rather than accept its outputs at face value.

Taking a more operational approach, Dr. Kha Dinh, Serial Entrepreneur, Author and Educator, shared practical insights and demonstration of an AI-powered solution designed for Zalo, one of Vietnam’s most widely used messaging platforms. Addressing a familiar challenge for businesses, she highlighted how important information can become difficult to track when work takes place across multiple chat conversations.

Her solution aims to bring greater structure to business workflows on Zalo, helping organisations manage interactions with customers, suppliers and partners more systematically and efficiently.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nghiem Le, Head of APAC Analytics Hub at Heineken, offered a more personal perspective on AI adoption. Despite his extensive experience in digital transformation and analytics, he described himself as a beginner in his current AI journey, demonstrating how experimentation can begin with simple, everyday applications.

For Mr. Nghiem, AI offers opportunities to save time, improve productivity and support personal development. His approach was a reminder that effective adoption does not always begin with established best practices, but with the willingness to explore and learn along the way.

“Waiting for best practices worries me. So, I practice, and I found what is best for me,” he shared.

The conversation continued beyond the stage, as attendees connected during the networking session, exchanging ideas and perspectives across industries.

Showcasing the Next Generation of AI-Driven Solutions

A major highlight of the event was a special spotlight on the outstanding innovations from the School of Science, Engineering & Technology (SSET) Capstone showcase. Following their success from the showcase, four outstanding student teams – Hello World, RENOTS, PassME, BrewQuery, re-showcased their solutions spanning high-impact sectors. These AI-driven projects tackled complex, real-world industry challenges, demonstrating how applied technology and talent can bridge academic excellence with market impact.

Our special thanks to our partners, The Business School – RMIT Vietnam, and School of Science, Engineering & Technology – RMIT Vietnam, for their support in making the event happen.

View the event photo album here: A2A – From Disruption to Reinvention

Photo credit: Nghia Ngo

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