The rapid advancement of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) has fundamentally transformed the educational landscape, particularly in the field of language teacher preparation. This article examines the role of artificial intelligence tools in developing media competence among future English language teachers in higher education institutions of Uzbekistan. The study draws on theoretical frameworks of media literacy, digital pedagogy, and competence-based education to analyze how AI-powered platforms – including ChatGPT, Grammarly, DeepL, and multimedia generation tools – can be systematically integrated into teacher training curricula. Using a mixed-methods approach encompassing surveys, lesson observations, and reflective journals from 120 pre-service English teachers at Fergana State University, the research identifies key dimensions of media competence and proposes a pedagogical model for its development. Findings indicate that AI tool integration significantly enhances students' ability to critically evaluate digital media content, produce multimodal teaching materials, and adapt authentic media resources for language learning contexts.