Modern AI platforms are trained on vast amounts of online information, including content from websites, blogs, and publications. Typically, these systems do not disclose their specific sources, often due to copyright and legal considerations. This opacity makes it difficult to determine to what extent knowledge generated by Geneva’s international community contributes to the development of major AI models. A notable exception is Google’s AI Overview (AIO), which provides direct citations for its generated responses. By analysing this tool for 528 keywords related to Geneva’s core activities, we found that Geneva-based resources were cited only 123 times. This relatively low usage indicates a weak digital positioning of ‘International Geneva’ within the global knowledge ecosystems that inform AI. It underscores the urgent need for strategic action, particularly in developing specialised AI systems rooted in Geneva’s knowledge ecology.The digital reality of International Geneva
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Our analysis of the AI footprint reveals a clear trust hierarchy in how AI models select and cite diplomatic content. This hierarchy determines which organisations define the AI governance narrative and influences global perceptions through search engine citations.
Key finding: diplomacy.edu leads in both the volume and breadth of cited URLs, setting the standard for digital influence. However, Geneva’s global expertise is underrepresented due to a low citation rate, highlighting a disconnect between expertise and AI visibility.
Our keyword mapping of the 123 successful citations shows a strong trust in specific niche areas where Geneva holds a monopoly on consensus:
The data suggests that ‘weak digital positioning‘ is often due to technical and structural barriers rather than a lack of valuable knowledge.
International Geneva’s low AI footprint signals that expert diplomatic knowledge is being overshadowed in AI models. Without action, generalists rather than specialists will shape the digital narrative, undermining Geneva’s global cognitive and knowledge influence.
To reclaim this space, Geneva’s international actors must:
| Organisation | Quoted Geneva URLs | Keywords citing |
|---|---|---|
| DiploFoundation | 26 | 18 |
| World Economic Forum (WEF) | 18 | 17 |
| Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) | 17 | 14 |
| World Health Organization (WHO) | 16 | 12 |
| International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) | 8 | 4 |
| World Trade Organization (WTO) | 6 | 3 |
| United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) | 5 | 5 |
| CERN | 5 | 4 |
| Geneva Water Hub | 5 | 3 |
| UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency) | 5 | 3 |
| Geneva Environment Network | 4 | 3 |
| International Labour Organization (ILO) | 4 | 3 |
| UNCTAD | 4 | 3 |
| International Organization for Standardization (ISO) | 3 | 3 |
| UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) | 3 | 3 |
| UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) | 3 | 3 |
| World Meteorological Organization (WMO) | 3 | 3 |
| International Organization for Migration (IOM) | 3 | 2 |
| World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | 3 | 2 |
| Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) | 2 | 2 |
| Digital Watch (Geneva Internet Platform) | 2 | 2 |
| Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID) | 2 | 2 |
| UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) | 2 | 2 |
| UNOG Library & Archives (resources portal) | 2 | 1 |
| CIVICUS | 1 | 1 |
| International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) | 1 | 1 |
| International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) | 1 | 1 |
| International Telecommunication Union (ITU) | 1 | 1 |
| Simon Institute (simoninstitute.ch) | 1 | 1 |
| South Centre | 1 | 1 |
