Digital Learning Week 2026 debates the role of artificial intelligence in education
By Amanda Filoso
Between September 8 and 11, UNESCO held the 2026 Digital Learning Week at its headquarters in Paris, dedicated to the theme “Education in the age of AI: Facts | Frictions | Frontiers.” The event brought together more than 1,500 participants in person, in addition to thousands of people following the program online. Ministers of Education, experts, representatives of the technology sector, educators, and students participated in discussions on the transformations brought about by artificial intelligence in education systems.
The program addressed issues that go beyond the adoption of digital tools in the classroom, raising questions about what is considered reliable knowledge in an environment marked by the production of content using artificial intelligence, the effects of AI on education systems, and the possibilities opened up by new technologies. Topics discussed included AI safety and sovereignty, human learning, teacher autonomy, higher education, and participatory governance models. The aim was to discuss how to keep human agency, equity, and the public purpose of education at the center of decisions about its future.
One of the main outcomes of the week was the adoption, on September 8, of a joint declaration by more than 25 ministers and representatives responsible for education. The document calls for education to be preserved as a human right and a common good in the age of artificial intelligence. Among the priorities established are creating conditions for AI systems to be auditable and subject to public oversight, developing AI competencies among teachers and students, and ensuring teacher participation in decisions regarding the technologies used in educational institutions.
The declaration also addressed issues related to student protection, data use, and inclusion. In this regard, the document recommends that AI adoption take students’ age and stage of development into account, allow its use to be discontinued when necessary, and treat educational data from a public-interest perspective. It also advocates for inclusive and multilingual systems, assessment of the costs involved in adopting the technologies, and the promotion of portability and open-source solutions. UNESCO also called on AI system providers to present evidence of educational benefits before implementation, while ensuring mechanisms for explanation, auditing, and accountability.
The discussions were also accompanied by data on the use of artificial intelligence in higher education. A UNESCO survey involving members of the UNESCO Chairs network found that 93% of the academics surveyed believe that students use generative AI to produce academic work, while 63% perceive a decline in students’ cognitive abilities. Most participants supported the use of the technology for specific activities or under conditions requiring its disclosure, while less than 1% supported a complete ban and 2% indicated a preference for unrestricted use.
Another highlight of the program was the 2026 UNESCO ICT in Education Prize ceremony, which recognized two initiatives aimed at using technology to strengthen learning. In Finland, the “Generation AI” project, developed by the Universities of Eastern Finland, Helsinki, and Oulu, together with other partners, works with activities designed to develop students’ ability to critically analyze and participate in the development of AI systems. In Brazil, the “Redação Paraná” project, led by the Paraná State Department of Education, uses artificial intelligence to support writing, combined with teacher mediation. The initiative has already reached approximately 850,000 students in 2,000 schools.
UNESCO made available for public consultation a document on deliberative governance of AI in education and six texts produced by experts addressing topics such as safety, age appropriateness, technology procurement, and sovereignty. The contributions received will be compiled into policy documents to be published during the next Digital Learning Week, scheduled for March 22–27, 2027.
Learn more at: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/education-ministers-call-education-remain-common-good-age-ai-unescos-digital-learning-week?hub=83250
