AI diplomacy walks the line between continuity and change in our digital era.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping diplomatic practice. While the fundamental purposes of diplomacy – communication, negotiation, and representation – remain constant, the tools and contexts in which they are carried out are evolving. AI brings both continuity and disruption: it can support traditional diplomatic tasks with greater speed and scale, but it also raises complex questions around ethics, bias, trust, and human oversight.
This course provides a structured, practical, and critical introduction to the relevance and application of AI in diplomacy. It will help diplomats and international professionals understand the impact of AI on their work, gain hands-on experience with key tools and techniques, and explore the implications of AI for negotiations, reporting, and strategic communication.
What will you learn?
- How to understand and explain the relevance of AI in diplomatic practice
- How to apply prompting techniques to use AI tools effectively
- How AI is currently used across different areas of diplomacy, with real examples
- How to evaluate the benefits, risks, and limitations of AI in diplomatic processes
- How AI can enhance preparation, negotiation, and decision-making
- How to use AI in reporting while maintaining credibility and analytical rigour
Course lecturers
Katarina Bojović
Director of Digital Diplomacy, Diplo
Who should apply
- Practising diplomats, civil servants, and others working in international relations who want to refresh or expand their knowledge under the guidance of experienced practitioners and academics
- Postgraduate students of diplomacy or international relations wishing to study topics not offered through their university programmes or diplomatic academies and to gain deeper insight through interaction with practising diplomats
- Postgraduate students or practitioners in other fields seeking an entry point into the world of diplomacy
- Journalists, staff of international and non-governmental organisations, translators, business people, and others who interact with diplomats and wish to improve their understanding of diplomacy-related topics
Overview
The course consists of 4 modules:
- Relevance of AI for diplomacy. The introductory module sets the scene by demystifying key AI concepts and terminology relevant to diplomacy. Participants will learn the basics of prompting, explore why AI matters for diplomats, and reflect on the opportunities and risks it introduces. The module provides a gentle entry point into AI governance, ethics, and broader policy questions. It also introduces challenges such as security risks, misinformation, algorithmic bias, and over-reliance on AI systems – especially in sensitive diplomatic settings.
- Applications of AI in diplomatic practice. This module explores how AI is being integrated into various areas of diplomacy, including public diplomacy, policy analysis, consular services, and multilateral negotiation processes. It maps out the key applications and tools – from machine translation and summarisation to strategic foresight, public diplomacy, and consular services – and presents case studies where they are already used. Participants will learn to critically assess the benefits, limitations, and impact of these technologies on diplomatic efficiency and integrity.
- AI in negotiations. Can AI support diplomatic negotiations? This module focuses on how AI can enhance preparation, strategy, and real-time support in bilateral and multilateral negotiations. Participants will reflect on the benefits and limits of using AI in real-world scenarios and explore how to balance efficiency with strategic and ethical considerations.
- AI and reporting. Reporting is one of the core functions of diplomacy, and one where AI can provide clear and immediate support. This module focuses on how AI tools can help diplomats process, summarise, and structure information from diverse sources. Participants will gain hands-on experience with tools that enhance situational awareness, automate first drafts, and distil long documents into digestible formats.
Also of interest
Need more info:
DiploFoundation (attn Tanja Nikolic)
Anutruf, Ground Floor, Hriereb Street Msida, MSD 1675, Malta
Methodology
The course will last for a total of 5 weeks, structured as follows:
- 1 week split between the course introduction and the wrap-up
- 4 weeks dedicated to addressing the course topics individually
The course is based on a collaborative learning approach, involving a high level of interaction over a four-week period. This interaction takes place in two main forms:
- Asynchronous interaction, using a custom-developed commenting tool
- Synchronous interaction, through live class meetings held in real time
Each module is discussed over seven days, during which you are expected to actively engage in the exchange of ideas, examples, and experiences with fellow participants and lecturers from around the world. Some modules may also include additional online activities, such as quizzes and exercises. Weekly interaction concludes with a one-hour live class meeting, conducted via Zoom or as a text-based chat. These sessions provide an opportunity to discuss the week’s topic in real time with the lecturer and other participants.
To complete the course successfully, an average of 5 to 7 hours of study time per week is required. This includes both synchronous and asynchronous discussions, as well as any additional online activities. Throughout the course, you will also receive guidance and personalised feedback on your classwork from the course team.
Participants who successfully complete the course receive a certificate issued by Diplo Academy, which can be printed or shared electronically.
To learn more about the methodology used in this course, watch the video below.
Studying online with Diplo Academy
Prerequisites
- Regular internet access
- An undergraduate university degree, OR 3 years of work experience, and appropriate professional qualifications in diplomacy or international relations
- Sufficient English language proficiency to undertake postgraduate-level studies
Fees and scholarships
The fee for this course is €500.
- Diplo alumni are eligible for a 15% discount on the course fee.
- A limited number of partial scholarships are available for diplomats and professionals working in international relations from developing countries.
- Group discounts are available for multiple participants from the same institution.
Applicants are encouraged to actively explore scholarship funding from local or international institutions.
How to apply
Fill out the short form to begin your application process for this course.
Applying for financial assistance? Please indicate this on the application form and, upload your CV, along with a motivation statement that includes:
- Details of your relevant professional and educational background
- Your reasons for applying to the course
- Why you believe you should be offered the opportunity to participate, and how your participation would benefit you, your institution, and/or your country
Note: Financial assistance from Diplo is available only to applicants from developing countries! Late applications will be considered only if places are still available.
Cancellation policy
A minimum of 15 applications is required for the course to run.
Diplo Academy reserves the right to cancel the course if enrolment is insufficient. In the event of cancellation, Diplo will notify applicants shortly after the application deadline. Applicants who have paid an application fee may either transfer the fee to another course or request a refund.
