How does media and information literacy need to step up its game in the AI era?

As people, especially youth, increasingly rely on online platforms like websites, instant messaging applications, social media platforms and GenAI, it is ever more urgent to introduce and systematically strengthen critical thinking and discernment skills. With this in mind, this week sees UNESCO’s annual Media and Information Literacy (MIL) forum – including a feature conference in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia on 23-24 October.

Today, our ability to distinguish between human content and AI-generated content is tested every day. Yet the ability to do so is not sufficient – and does not automatically lead to a more trustworthy or reliable information ecosystem. In the same vein, AI-generated content is not all false or manipulative.

The human-like characteristics of AI chatbots can lead to an uncritical acceptance of information or disclosure of personal information. Such uncritical acceptance results in the spread of misinformation, reinforcement of biases, diminished sense of agency, over-reliance on algorithmic authority, and increased susceptibility to manipulation or emotional influence, particularly when users engage with AI outputs as if they were human judgments.

The crucial element for everyday users is understanding the broader context; the processes that shape AI-generated content, as well as the intended use of such content. In this context, MIL ensures that individuals can critically assess AI-generated content, understand the implications of data-driven media, and be empowered to use AI tools ethically and engage critically in digital spaces.

MIL notably helps us to address some of the key concerns raised in an AI era:

When the concepts of media literacy and information literacy were coined in the 1930s and 1960s respectively, the AI technologies that dominate the information landscape today did not yet exist. In just one example illustrating the scale of the challenge, AI search engines cite incorrect news sources at an alarming 60% rate.

However, the core competencies of MIL are still applicable to an AI era. MIL in this context means understanding AI’s impact on human rights, democracy and sustainable development. It involves distinguishing AI types, analyzing how algorithms shape content, and critically deciding when to use AI tools. AI providers and deployers must engage ethically, upholding transparency, accountability and bias awareness. Learners must interpret AI-generated content, assess algorithmic effects and recognize how AI reflects social norms and power structures. Promoting AI literacy and ethical AI governance is crucial for inclusive participation in digital societies.

These need to be strengthened across levels of progression (basic, intermediate and advanced), considering the specificity and evolving nature of AI technologies. Another consideration is to deliver MIL not only at the individual level but across the entire socio-ecological spectrum, as highlighted by a recent report from the World Economic Forum’s Global Coalition for Digital Safety. Effective measures should operate at the individual, interpersonal, community, institutional and policy levels to strengthen a whole-of-society response.

In an AI-driven world, MIL is no longer an afterthought or optional: It is as essential as literacy. The UN-designated Global MIL Week, observed each year between 24-31 October, is a rallying point for all stakeholders, including governments, educators, platforms and citizens, to act.

There is much still to be done. As highlighted in the new UNESCO briefing Media and Information Literacy for All: Closing the Gaps, though 88% of UNESCO member states recognized the importance of MIL by including it within their national policy frameworks, only 17% have adopted a stand-alone MIL policy. Further, one-third of the countries that integrate MIL in school curricula limit it to basic digital skills, without addressing broader competencies that foster critical thinking.

Spotlighting this disparity in MIL policies globally, this year’s MIL Week events will be held under the theme, Minds Over AI – MIL in Digital Spaces. During this week, UNESCO is launching a global digital campaign titled AI Can Make Mistakes to invite us to take a closer look at the promises and pitfalls of AI and reminds us that while the technology can be incredibly powerful, errors, biases and misinformation can easily slip through even the most vigilant users.