In a world where emerging digital tools shape what we see and what we believe, the Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Week reminds us to pause and ask: do we know how to make sense of it all? Marked every year from October 24th to 31st, this UNESCO-led campaign champions the right of every person to navigate information with confidence, care, and critical thinking. It celebrates how far the world has come in helping people build the skills to find, understand and use information responsibly, while calling for stronger collaboration among governments, civil society, the media, technology companies, schools and youth so that no one is left behind in the digital age.

This year’s Global Media and Information Literacy Week will centre on the theme “Minds Over AI –   MIL in Digital Spaces,” with its main conference taking place in Cartagena de Indias, hosted by UNESCO and the Government of Colombia. The gathering will examine how rapidly advancing artificial intelligence is transforming the way information is created, shared, and understood, and how media and information literacy can equip people with the skills to question what they see, understand how it is shaped, and make informed choices in an AI-driven world.

Artificial intelligence may be one technology, but people do not experience it in the same way. Across Africa, where access to digital tools is still uneven, its promise feels close for some and out of reach for others. A student in a city school might explore new worlds through AI-powered lessons, while another in a rural classroom has never touched a computer. A farmer might use AI weather tools to plan harvests, while others still read the skies and hope for rain. Without care, these gaps could grow wider, deepening inequalities and leaving many behind. Strengthening media and information literacy can help close this gap by giving people the skills to question what they see, understand how it is shaped and use AI responsibly, ensuring technology serves people, not the other way around.

In the coming days, events will unfold across the world as educators, policymakers, journalists, youth networks and technology leaders join the conversations on building more informed and inclusive digital spaces. From local workshops to global dialogues, Global Media and Information Literacy Week will highlight the skills and voices needed to guide how technology shapes our lives. With the right skills and mindset, we can shape a digital future where technology amplifies human potential instead of replacing it.