Proclaimed in 2011 by the Member States of UNESCO, and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 as an International Day, February 13 became World Radio Day (WRD). 13th of February is the day on which the UN Headquarters-based United Nations Radio was established in 1946. The objectives of WRD are principally to raise awareness among the public and the media regarding the importance of radio as well as to encourage decision makers to establish and provide access to information through radio as well as to enhance networking and international cooperation among broadcasters. Radio a powerful medium Radio is a powerful medium for celebrating humanity in all its diversity and constitutes a platform for democratic discourse. At the global level, radio remains the most widely consumed medium. This unique ability to reach out the widest audience means radio can shape a society’s experience of diversity, stand as an arena for all voices to speak out, be represented and heard. Radio stations should serve diverse communities, offering a wide variety of programs, viewpoints and content, and reflect the diversity of audiences in their organizations and operations. Radio continues to be one of the most trusted and used media in the world, according to different international reports. World Radio Day 2026 The theme for the World Radio Day, celebrated on 13 February 2026, is "AI is a tool, not a voice.". Today Artificial Intelligence (AI) opens a new chapter: not just for innovation but for deepening their bond with listeners. When used ethically and responsibly to support professional judgement, creativity and public service values, AI can become an ally in strengthening audience trust. Technology alone does not build trust. Radio broadcasters do. Radio and AI Artifical Intelligence (AI) isn’t just a challenge to navigate; it’s a chance to reimagine radio with care, creativity, and connection. It invites us to dream bigger, reach further, and honour listeners’ time, intelligence and expectations. AI can help radio blossom in thoughtful ways: Ease and Flow, letting technology take care of the routine tasks, such as scheduling, voice-tracking, daily weather or sports updates, administrative chores, so your team can focus on what truly matters: inform, educate, entertain. Meaningful Growth, understanding your audience more deeply, connecting ads to listener needs, improving revenue. Listener Empowerment, helping every listener feel included, offering personalized experiences, real-time interaction, and space for under-represented voices that deserve to be heard. Quality Content, using AI to support fact-checking, source verification, rediscovery of archival richness and increased factuality, while keeping human judgment at the center. All of this builds something precious: trust. A Thoughtful Approach to AI To make the most of AI, radio broadcasters need more than tools - they need a strategy. That means: Clear, caring policies and internal guardrails for ethical AI use Respect for privacy, intellectual property, data ownership and transparency Careful use of generative audio (like AI music, voice cloning, deepfake audio, etc.) Investment in people; their skills, growth, collaborations Legal and security checks to manage emerging risks, data storage and transfer, liabilities, etc. Let’s treat this moment as a transformative opportunity to elevate these and every aspect of radio broadcasting. Source : UNESCO