In the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital competence emerges as an essential pillar for human development. The article begins by exploring in detail what digital competence entails and how it has become a crucial skill in an increasingly digitized world. It then examines the profound transformation of society driven by AI, which has reshaped the economy, education and everyday life, creating new opportunities and challenges. It also delves into the convergence between digital competence and artificial intelligence, and highlights how these two areas influence each other, generating synergies and opportunities for technological progress and human development. Furthermore, it also highlights digital competence as a skill for human development and analyzes how the acquisition of digital skills can boost access to opportunities, inclusion and improved quality of life. Finally, strategies to foster digital competence and human development in the AI era are presented, and the importance of inclusive education, continuous learning, universal access to technology, socioemotional skills, ethical literacy, and cross-sector collaboration is emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]