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The 2025 World Press Freedom Day commemoration, themed "Informing in a Challenging World," focused on Artificial Intelligence’s transformative impact on press freedom and media ecosystems. To mark the occasion, UNESCO’s Regional Office for Central America, Mexico, and Colombia partnered with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Costa Rica and the College of Journalists and Communication Professionals (COLPER) to host a critical discussion titled World Press Freedom Day 2025: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Journalism on May 14 at the UN House in San Pedro, Montes de Oca.

Approximately 30 attendees gathered to reflect on AI’s benefits, challenges, and threats to freedom of expression, press freedom, and the right to information. The session also addressed AI’s implications for journalist safety, particularly for women in the field.

Notable participants included Colombian AI Literacy Consultant Carlos Augusto Barrera Cuesta; Damián Arroyo, AI Editor for Costa Rica’s La Nación newspaper; Ana Saavedra, former Director of Colombia Check and specialist in disinformation and conflict reporting; and Larissa Tristán, Professor and Researcher at the University of Costa Rica’s School of Collective Communication.

Panelists unanimously agreed that AI has irrevocably permeated all societal spheres, journalism included. They acknowledged its power as a journalistic tool—enhancing false-information detection, data analysis, and task automation—but also warned of its potential to amplify disinformation, hate speech, and censorship.

A central conclusion emphasized the irreplaceable role of humans in deploying AI tools ethically. Participants stressed that training journalists and audiences in responsible AI use is now essential. The forum ultimately served as a vital space to confront AI’s unique challenges within journalistic practice.