Imagine living in a remote area, surrounded by vast landscapes and herds of livestock, with little access to modern technology. That’s the reality for many nomadic herders in Mongolia. But one woman is on a mission to change that by bringing artificial intelligence (AI) to their doorstep.

Bolor-Erdene Battsengel, a 32-year-old former government official, is the founder of AI Academy Asia. Her goal? To ensure that AI benefits everyone, including Mongolia’s rural herders. At a recent World Economic Forum panel in Davos, Switzerland, she shared her vision, starting with a surprising fact: she still owns 300 sheep. “I come from a herder community,” she explained, highlighting her deep connection to the people she aims to help.

Mongolia, a country nestled between Russia and China, is home to about 3.5 million people, with nearly 30% living as nomadic herders. Despite 84% of the population having internet access, many rural schools lack computer science teachers. Battsengel worries that without proper education, the digital divide will only grow, worsening existing inequalities in income, gender, and education.

Her solution? AI Academy Asia, which plans to train 500 teachers to bring AI education to rural areas. The initiative officially launches on January 27. “If we can give people access to equal education, it can create enormous impact,” she said.

Battsengel knows firsthand the power of education. Born in a rural community, she moved to Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, at age 10. Despite facing bullying for her rural roots, she excelled academically, skipping three grades and finishing high school at 14. By 29, she became Mongolia’s youngest Vice Minister of Digital Development, where she led efforts to digitize government services.

Her work doesn’t stop there. In 2021, she founded Girls Code, a non-profit offering coding bootcamps to girls from nomadic communities. The program has already produced 120 graduates, some of whom have gone on to study at top universities like Harvard and MIT.

With AI Academy Asia, Battsengel hopes to expand her efforts, teaching herders practical skills like using AI to predict weather and manage livestock health. This could be life-changing, especially after last winter’s “dzud,” a severe weather event that killed millions of animals and threatened herders’ livelihoods.

“I really hope they use this knowledge to improve their quality of life,” she said. For Battsengel, it’s not just about technology—it’s about creating a fairer future for all.