Bolor-Erdene Battsengel, a 32-year-old former Mongolian government official and founder of AI Academy Asia, began her remarks at the World Economic Forum (WEF) by highlighting her roots in a herder community where she owns 300 sheep. This background fuels her passion for promoting digital inclusion in Mongolia, a country with 30% of its 3. 5 million people being nomadic herders. Her initiative aims to train 500 teachers to bring AI education to rural areas, emphasizing that equitable access to education can have a profound impact. Globally, there is a significant digital divide, with 2. 2 billion children lacking Internet access at home. Although 84% of Mongolia's population uses the Internet, Battsengel foresees issues arising from AI advancements, which could exacerbate existing inequalities, such as income, education, and gender disparities in her country. Rural schools often lack access to computer science teachers, and she believes adding digital inequality will deepen these gaps, which is especially concerning for children in underserved communities. Battsengel, a member of the WEG Forum of Young Global Leaders, has firsthand experience of the transformative power of education.

After moving to Ulaanbaatar at age 10, she excelled in school, becoming the youngest Vice Minister of Digital Development at 29. She launched the "E-Mongolia" initiative to digitize government services for remote residents and founded Girls Code, a nonprofit that supports coding education for girls from disadvantaged backgrounds, yielding notable graduates, some of whom attend prestigious universities. Through AI Academy Asia, Battsengel aims to reach even more individuals, including boys, to harness AI technology. The World Economic Forum anticipates that technological advances will create 78 million new jobs by 2030, underscoring the importance of inclusive national AI strategies tailored to local needs. AI Academy Asia is developing curricula to teach herders essential skills, especially in light of recent extreme winter conditions in Mongolia that have devastated livestock. By learning to use AI for weather prediction and livestock management, herders can enhance their resilience and quality of life, Battsengel hopes.