LETTER: Radio and Artificial Intelligence AI is a tool, not a voice

Do you have a physical radio at home? In a rapidly changing world underpinned by artificial intelligence, the radio is often dismissed as old- fashioned and obsolete.  Yet, for more than a century, radio has been a powerful medium, uniting people across borders, cultures, and generations.  On February 13, 2026, the international community will once again come together to observe World Radio Day.  

World Radio Day (WRD) was proclaimed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2011 and later adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, making it an officially recognized international observance.   

Each year, we pause to honour the broadcasters who deliver the news, amplify voices, and share stories that matter.  World Radio Day commemorates the establishment of United Nations Radio in 1946, established in the aftermath of World War II as a symbol of global communication and cooperation.

Since then, radio has remained a trusted companion, authentic, reliable, and accessible to all.  But AI must remain a support system, not a substitute for the human voice, editorial judgment, and credibility that define radio.  When used ethically and responsibly to support professional judgment, creativity, and public service values, AI can become an ally in strengthening audience trust.  

The theme of World Radio Day 2026, “Radio and Artificial Intelligence: AI is a tool, not a voice,” reminds us of the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the broadcasting space. Undoubtedly, Artificial Intelligence is here to stay. Its usage and dependencies are widespread in an era where almost everyone is a content creator.  

Additionally, this year’s theme highlights how AI can enhance content production, archiving, translation, audience engagement and accessibility, making radio more efficient and inclusive. At the same time, the theme emphasizes that technology must remain a support system, not a substitute for the human voice.

It is by encouraging ethical and responsible use of AI, the theme reaffirms that innovation should strengthen radio’s core values of trust, authenticity, and community connection in the digital age.  

Importantly, creativity, empathy, and moral responsibility remain uniquely human.  Treating AI as a tool ensures humans remain accountable for decisions, rather than deferring responsibility to machines. Both radio and AI share a common thread: both are tools for connection. Radio connects through sound and storytelling, while AI connects through information and support.

As we observe World Radio Day in Jamaica and indeed the Caribbean, let us pause to remember the life and work of Alma Mock Yen, who passed recently. 

Alma Mock Yen was a pioneering broadcaster who trained countless radio journalists who studied at the Radio Education Unit and at the Caribbean School of Media and Communication (CARIMAC), located at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies.  Her legacy lives on in the voices of those she mentored, and in the enduring strength of Caribbean broadcasting.

On this World Radio Day, let us give thanks for radio for the voices it carries, the trust it builds, and the communities it connects.  Let us also embrace innovation responsibly, ensuring that technology strengthens, rather than replaces, the human spirit at the heart of radio broadcasting.

In the words of Marshall McLuhan, radio affects most intimately, person to person, offering a world of unspoken communication between writer-speaker and the listener.

Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues.

[email protected] 

@WayneCamo           

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