Bolor-Erdene Battsengel, a former Mongolian government official, is championing digital inclusion for nomadic herders through her organization AI Academy Asia, which seeks to educate 500 teachers in AI. With a background in rural Mongolia, Battsengel emphasizes the importance of equal access to technology and education. Her initiatives aim to bridge the digital divide and empower communities against socio-economic disparities exacerbated by current technological changes.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Bolor-Erdene Battsengel, a 32-year-old founder of AI Academy Asia, commenced her remarks by sharing her background as a member of a herding community, illustrating her dedication to digital inclusion in Mongolia. Her initiative aims to train 500 educators who will provide artificial intelligence education in rural regions, an essential step towards bridging the digital divide, as around 30% of Mongolia’s population consists of nomadic herders.
The growing digital divide poses a significant challenge in educational access, with globally 2.2 billion young individuals lacking Internet connectivity at home. Despite Mongolia exhibiting a high Internet usage rate of 84%, schools in rural areas often lack necessary resources and qualified computer science instructors. Battsengel warns that without intervention, digital inequality could exacerbate existing disparities in education, income, and gender equality, severely impacting future generations.
Having transitioned from a rural upbringing to becoming the youngest member of Mongolia’s government, where she served as Vice Minister for Digital Development, Battsengel recognizes the transformative power of education. During her tenure, she led the ‘E-Mongolia’ initiative, aimed at digitizing governmental services to improve accessibility for individuals residing in remote locales.
Moreover, Battsengel founded Girls Code, an organization that offers coding boot camps and mentorship to girls from disadvantaged backgrounds. Notable achievements include the program yielding graduates who have continued their studies at prestigious institutions such as Harvard and MIT, and even pursued entrepreneurial ventures.
With AI Academy Asia, she intends to broaden her impact, ensuring that both young men and women can harness AI technologies in their professional and academic pursuits, essential in light of shifting job markets. Projections indicate that technological changes will generate approximately 78 million new jobs globally by 2030, particularly in technology and artificial intelligence sectors.
To maximize the benefits of AI, it is critical to align national strategies with local challenges. AI Academy Asia has created curriculum designed to teach herders practical applications of AI, crucial for enduring adverse conditions like the recent dzud, which devastated livestock populations. Battsengel expressed optimism regarding the potential of these herders to utilize AI knowledge to enhance their livelihoods and quality of life.
Bolor-Erdene Battsengel is a prominent advocate for leveraging technology to reduce educational and digital disparities in Mongolia. Her initiatives emphasize the importance of equal access to education and technological resources, especially for nomadic herders who may not have the same opportunities as urban populations. The impact of artificial intelligence on future employment highlights the urgency of equipping individuals with skills necessary to thrive in a digital economy, especially as job markets evolve. Battsengel’s experience in government and her extensive work with nonprofit organizations showcase her commitment to fostering digital literacy—particularly among women and marginalized groups in Mongolia. This educational movement is crucial as the global workforce undergoes transformation due to advances in technology. Battsengel’s efforts serve as a model for addressing the challenges posed by the digital divide in developing regions. The context of her work highlights broader issues within the global landscape, including the risk of increasing inequality driven by unequal access to technology and education. Addressing these inequalities is essential for ensuring that emerging technologies benefit all segments of society, especially those who are currently underserved.
Bolor-Erdene Battsengel’s work illustrates the potential for artificial intelligence to foster educational equity and improve livelihoods among Mongolia’s nomadic herders. Through initiatives like AI Academy Asia and Girls Code, she aims to bridge digital and educational divides, facilitating access to essential skills for both young men and women. Battsengel’s dedication to addressing inequalities in education and technology lays a foundation for a more inclusive and equitable future in the face of rapid technological advancements and changing job markets.
Original Source: edition.cnn.com
