Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being adopted around the world, yet in many rural communities in Asia-Pacific it can still feel out of reach. Limited infrastructure and language barriers often restrict access to education and upskilling, leaving communities at risk of being left behind as AI reshapes work and learning.
To address this, AVPN’s AI Opportunity Fund: Asia-Pacific, with support from Google.org and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), partners with local training providers to deliver accessible, relevant AI programmes that build skills and opportunities where they are needed most.
Bringing AI Closer to Communities
In Vietnam, Viet Anh Trung Consultancy (Công Ty Trách Nhiệm Hữu Hạn Tư Vấn Việt Anh Trung) runs AI training programmes both on-site and online, enabling rural teachers to upskill without travelling far.
For teachers in Lam Dong province, like Mr. Trán Xuân Tho, integrating AI once felt daunting. After attending training sessions, he now uses AI to create lesson plans more efficiently, enabling him to focus on student engagement and build a “smart classroom” that fully leverages AI.
As he puts it, “AI cannot replace me as a teacher, but it can help me become a better teacher.”
In India, the Samunnati Foundation‘s AI programmes, which include step-by-step guidance and hands-on workshops, teach farmers how AI can support everyday agricultural tasks.
Farmer Shivkumari Devi reflects, “I once thought AI was only for big companies or urban people. Through this programme, I realised it can support farmers like me.” Today, she uses AI to check crop health and weather conditions, detect early signs of pest attacks, and promote her organic produce beyond her village.
For small businesses, Social Empowerment and Economic Development Society (SEEDS) integrates AI into training programmes, simplifying complex concepts to make AI accessible and practical. The courses cover problem-solving, data literacy, and the ethical and social implications of AI.
Farooza Akhter, a self-employed supplier of printing materials in India, now uses AI to design notebooks and draft marketing emails, helping her work more efficiently, reach more customers, and gradually grow her business.
An Inclusive AI Future for Rural Communities
These stories show that AI is more than a tool; it can strengthen capability, confidence, and opportunity, especially in rural communities where access to technology and training is often limited. But technology alone is not enough. Human-centred, localised support ensures AI is applied meaningfully and inclusively. Through the AI Opportunity Fund, communities are gaining access to AI tools and the skills to use them effectively, advancing a just and equitable AI transition for all.
