A Day Celebrating the Power of Radio
Radio has over a century of history, being present in the daily lives of millions of listeners around the world as a trusted medium that stays close to people. It informs, entertains, educates, and, in emergency situations, often serves as a primary source of communication.
On February 13, we celebrate World Radio Day, a date proclaimed by UNESCO in 2011 and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 to recognize the importance of this universal, accessible, and fundamental medium in the lives of people and communities.
Radio and Artificial Intelligence: A Glimpse into the Future
In 2026, the official theme of World Radio Day is “Radio and Artificial Intelligence,” an invitation to reflect on how AI can further strengthen this medium.
UNESCO emphasizes that AI should be seen as an ally of radio, not as its replacement voice—a tool to support editorial judgment, expand producers’ creativity, and strengthen public trust, while at the same time respecting the human values of broadcasting.
How Can AI Support Radio?
The technology has already been helping radio stations and professionals to:
Expand accessibility, with live transcription for people with hearing impairments, text-to-speech for people with visual impairments, and even automatic translation into minority languages;
Enhance audio experiences through AI-assisted sound design;
Summarize long articles, generate story ideas, or prioritize topics based on current events;
Better understand their audience by analyzing feedback, answering questions, and creating more personalized content;
Analyze large archives of programs, turning radio memories into easily accessible materials.
These applications do not replace the human role, but rather expand creative possibilities and strengthen the connection with listeners, making AI a true artificial assistant for radio.
Human Oversight Is Essential
Radio has always been recognized as a trusted medium. Its credibility is built daily through human curation, careful reporting, and a commitment to accurate information. AI can help in this process, but it does not replace the human perspective.
Moreover, whenever automated tools are used in the production or editing of content, it is essential to be transparent about this use. It is important for the audience to know when they are interacting with technology-assisted processes.
Why Radio Remains Essential
Even in the face of so many technological advances, radio remains one of the most popular media and continues to help build close dialogue with communities. With its ability to reinvent itself, it shows that tradition and innovation go hand in hand—especially when embracing technologies such as AI with responsibility and ethics. Let’s move forward together!
This note incorporates data from Unesco
