The Rise of the 'One-Person Business': AI-Driven Digital Economy Transformation

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) has blurred the line between individuals and organizations, sparking the rise of the 'one-person company' or One-Person Company (OPC) trend. This business model is not merely an evolution of freelancing, but rather a professional entity with legal status, structured operating procedures, and established business management.

In Vietnam, the potential for this model is immense, given that the current business landscape is still dominated by large-scale companies with massive workforces. The Vietnamese government, through Resolution No. 86/NQ-CP, has targeted the establishment of 1 million individual businesses by 2030 as a strategy to democratize entrepreneurship for individuals with digital skills who are not yet ready to adopt traditional corporate structures.

AI technology support has proven capable of significantly increasing operational efficiency, cutting work time by up to 80 percent, and delivering higher profit margins. Knowledge-based industries such as consulting, content creation, and programming are the main sectors benefiting from this convenience, where a single professional can run multiple departmental functions relying solely on advanced software.

While offering flexible freedom, this model demands high discipline. The main challenge faced by OPC operators is an intense workload and the risk of burnout, as business operations rely entirely on the owner. In response, governments are working on regulatory reforms by simplifying tax and accounting administration, as well as providing support systems to ensure the sustainability of this business ecosystem.

This phenomenon is also happening globally, with China leading the way by providing incentives such as computing cost subsidies and workspace support for independent entrepreneurs. Learning from international practices, a 'compliance outsourcing' mechanism via government-subsidized business secretaries is being considered to ensure new entrepreneurs can focus on product development without being hampered by regulatory complexity.