The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will convene educators, policymakers, researchers, technology experts, and development partners from around the world for its 2026 Digital Learning Week, which is scheduled to take place from September 8 to 11 at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, under the theme “Facts. Frictions. Frontiers. Education in the Age of AI.”
According to UNESCO, the annual flagship event will explore the profound implications of artificial intelligence (AI) for education, focusing on how rapidly evolving technologies are reshaping teaching, learning, knowledge creation, and educational governance.
The United Nations organization charged with promoting cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication to foster peace worldwide, said the 2026 edition comes at a time when AI-powered tutors are expanding access to personalized learning, autonomous AI systems are becoming more sophisticated, and synthetic content is changing how information is produced and validated.
At the same time, it noted, new phenomena such as synthetic research outputs and so-called “ghost learners” are raising critical questions about authenticity, participation, and evidence in education systems worldwide.
UNESCO said the conference will examine what constitutes reliable knowledge in an era increasingly influenced by AI-generated content, while also addressing the tensions and opportunities that AI presents for education systems, as discussions will extend to issues such as public-interest AI, digital sovereignty, community-led educational approaches, and the need to preserve human agency and equity in the digital transformation of education.
According to UNESCO, the Digital Learning Week “presents a unique opportunity to participate in dynamic and thought-provoking discussions and engaging debates, co-create key resources and tools, and hear groundbreaking ideas and insights from world-renowned experts and leaders.”
It explained that the event aims to foster critical reflection and meaningful collaboration in advancing the ethical and human-centred digital transformation of education as we “reimagine our futures together.”
UNESCO noted that the influence of AI in education continues to escalate as AI tutors are reaching learners who have never had access to personalized support, ‘agentic’ AI systems are beginning to act autonomously, and synthetic content is reshaping how knowledge is produced and validated.
At the same time, it said, “phenomena such as synthetic research and ‘ghost learners’ are challenging established assumptions about evidence, participation and presence, raising urgent questions for education systems worldwide.”
Digital Learning Week, launched by UNESCO in 2023, has become the organization’s premier global platform on digital education and educational transformation. The event brings together representatives of governments, UN agencies, civil society organizations, academic institutions, the private sector, and international development partners to exchange ideas and develop policy responses to emerging technological challenges.
Participants at the conference will engage in high-level debates, collaborative workshops, research presentations, and policy dialogues designed to foster international cooperation on ethical, inclusive, and human-centred approaches to digital learning. The event is also expected to showcase innovative tools and resources aimed at helping countries harness technology while protecting the public purpose of education.
The conference will build on UNESCO’s broader work in AI and education, including its guidance for policymakers, competency frameworks for teachers and students, and the implementation of the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. Organizers say the discussions will contribute to shaping global strategies that ensure technological innovation strengthens rather than undermines equitable access to quality education.
Education experts are expected to pay particular attention to the growing challenge of distinguishing authentic knowledge from AI-generated content, the ethical use of generative AI in classrooms and research, and the governance frameworks needed to safeguard trust in education systems while promoting innovation.
UNESCO is inviting participants from around the world to attend the event either in person or online, underscoring the importance of international collaboration in navigating the opportunities and risks presented by AI-driven educational transformation.
