Yongtso (front) chats with her students at the School of Information Science and Technology of Xizang University in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, April 28, 2026. Yongtso, a professor of the School of Information Science and Technology of Xizang University, has worked there for over two decades. Having dedicated herself to the teaching and research in artificial intelligence (AI), she initiated the earliest AI-centered courses in the university to better cultivate talents for this plateau region.

She also dived further to apply cutting-edge AI technologies to the protection of Chinese cultural heritages. While serving as the chief engineer of a team designated with a national key research-and-development program on digitalization of Tibetan documents, Yongtso made breakthroughs in several critical technologies. These achievements were successfully applied to protect national-level ancient books enshrined at the Potala Palace.

Yongtso was awarded May Day national labor medal this year for her contributions. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

Yongtso (2nd L) checks progress in research programs by her students at the School of Information Science and Technology of Xizang University in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, April 28, 2026. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

Yongtso instructs her students at the School of Information Science and Technology of Xizang University in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, April 28, 2026. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

Yongtso is pictured at the School of Information Science and Technology of Xizang University in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, April 28, 2026. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

Yongtso is pictured at the School of Information Science and Technology of Xizang University in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, April 28, 2026. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

Yongtso works at her office of the School of Information Science and Technology of Xizang University in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, April 28, 2026. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

Yongtso works at her office of the School of Information Science and Technology of Xizang University in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, April 28, 2026. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)