Diplo Blog
The open-source gambit: How America plans to outpace AI rivals by democratising tech
25 July 2025
On July 23, the U.S. unveiled an AI Action Plan featuring 103 recommendations focused on winning the AI race against China. Key themes include promoting open-source AI to establish global standards, reducing regulations to support tech firms, and emphasizing national security. The plan addresses labor displacement, AI biases, and cybersecurity threats, advocating for reskilling workers and maintaining tech leadership through private sector flexibility. Additionally, it aims to align U.S. allies within an AI framework while expressing skepticism toward multilateral regulations. Overall, the plan positions open-source AI as a strategic asset amid geopolitical competition.
Military AI: Operational dangers and the regulatory void
09 July 2025
As military AI becomes operational in today’s conflicts, the lack of regulation and accountability risks turning warfare into a domain governed by opaque algorithms and unchecked escalation. Without urgent global oversight, these technologies could outpace our ability to control them, putting peace, ethics, and human lives in jeopardy.
AI Apprenticeship for IOs · From diplomats to AI builders
06 July 2025
The AI Apprenticeship for International Organisations, developed by DiploFoundation, empowers professionals from entities like the UN, WHO, and CERN to create AI tools that enhance global cooperation. Participants learn to design AI applications tailored to their daily tasks, emphasizing governance, ethics, and practical usage. Projects such as AI assistants addressing misinformation, language support, and event navigation showcase how thoughtful AI integration can augment human expertise and improve decision-making in complex global contexts. This initiative aims to close the AI skills gap and promote responsible AI usage within international governance frameworks.
The future of global security and why cyber diplomacy matters
03 July 2025
Cybernorms, Cyber diplomacy, Cybersecurity, Types of diplomacy
June’s G7 meeting, chaired by Canada, focused mainly on issues such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as latest conflicts, including those between Israel and Iran and Russia and Ukraine. The objective of the event in terms of cyberspace was to change strategy regarding the relevant use of these ‘new’ tools. The proposed […]
AI and Magical Realism: When technology blurs the line between wonder and reality
27 June 2025
The challenges of governing artificial intelligence often feel like something out of a Gabriel García Márquez novel, where the extraordinary blends seamlessly with the everyday, and the line between the possible and the impossible grows faint. This week (22-27 June 2025) at the 20th Internet Governance Forum (IGF), I proposed using magical realism as a lens to understand […]
AI in Sophie’s world: How a philosophy book can help us govern AI
21 June 2025
As we convene in Oslo for the Internet Governance Forum, we reflect on the philosophical insights from Jostein Gaarder's "Sophie’s World." The novel's exploration of identity and constructed reality parallels the challenges of AI governance today. Just as Sophie learns her existence is scripted, AI systems are shaped by data and algorithms, raising questions about consciousness and accountability. The complexities of AI, such as the 'black box' problem, highlight the need for transparency and understanding. Ultimately, governance should prioritize values and meaning, urging us to engage with fundamental questions about identity and existence in our digital age.
Advancing Swiss AI Trinity: Zurich’s entrepreneurship, Geneva’s governance, and communal subsidiarity
15 June 2025
Switzerland can inspire global AI transformation by leveraging its unique strengths: Zurich’s entrepreneurial spirit, Geneva’s governance expertise, and a focus on communal subsidiarity. This "AI Trinity" aims to reshape the national social contract for the AI era, balancing technological advancement with Swiss values of inclusivity and responsibility. As global uncertainty grows, Switzerland can establish a distinctive AI development strategy, fostering local innovation through educational initiatives and community engagement. By harmonizing innovation, governance, and local empowerment, Switzerland can demonstrate a model for ethical AI that serves both its people and the world.
EU Digital Diplomacy: Geopolitical shift from focus on values to economic security
10 June 2025
The EU's International Digital Strategy 2025 shifts focus from a values-centric approach to prioritizing geopolitical and economic security. While it retains a commitment to human rights, the new strategy emphasizes resilience, competitive tech development, and secure infrastructure, particularly in defense-related technologies. Notably, the 'Brussels Effect' of spreading EU regulations globally is downplayed, signaling a focus on strategic partnerships and investments over unilateral rule-making. This realpolitik stance integrates digital and cyber policies and emphasizes multilateral engagement while raising questions about implementation and the balance between values and security in EU digital diplomacy.
Empowering communities through bottom-up AI: The example of ThutoHealth
26 May 2025
In Botswana, a silent epidemic claims nearly half of all lives. Hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for 46% of deaths nationwide—a staggering statistic that reflects a global crisis magnified in low-resource settings. While these conditions are preventable or manageable with early intervention, access to healthcare education and tools remains uneven, […]
What can we learn from 160 years of tech diplomacy at ITU?
17 May 2025
Telecommunications infrastructure, AI diplomacy, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain diplomacy
On May 17, 1865, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) was founded by 20 European states to streamline telegraph messaging across borders, highlighting the need for multilateral cooperation in communication. Over 160 years, ITU has maintained its mission to balance national sovereignty with shared connectivity amidst evolving technologies. Historical lessons illustrate that crises can prompt necessary changes, while advancements in tech continue to shape global power dynamics. As we celebrate ITU's legacy, we are reminded that collaboration, standards, and diplomacy remain vital in navigating the challenges of today's interconnected digital landscape.
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