Technology Innovations for Creative Diplomacy

⏰16:00-17:30 EAT / 14:00–15:30 CET

Background and Rationale

Diplomacy is being rapidly reshaped by technological innovation. Digital platforms, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and immersive technologies are transforming how governments, international organisations, and non-state actors communicate, negotiate, and influence global audiences. These tools are expanding the reach and speed of diplomatic engagement while creating opportunities for more inclusive and creative approaches to international cooperation.

At the same time, global challenges such as climate change, conflict, misinformation, and digital inequality demand more agile and innovative diplomatic responses. Technology-enabled creative diplomacy offers new ways to build trust, shape narratives, engage foreign publics, and strengthen multilateral action. This webinar will explore how emerging technologies can be strategically applied in diplomacy while addressing ethical, security, and governance concerns.

Objectives

The webinar seeks to examine the impact of technological innovation on diplomatic practice, showcase creative applications of digital tools in public diplomacy and international engagement, and share practical experiences from technology-driven initiatives. It also aims to foster dialogue among key stakeholders on opportunities, risks, and capacity needs in digital and creative diplomacy.

Format and Expected Outcomes

The virtual webinar will feature a moderated expert panel followed by an interactive Q&A session. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of how technology can enhance creative diplomacy, access practical insights applicable to their work, build networks across diplomacy and technology communities, and contribute to policy-relevant discussions on responsible digital innovation.

Conclusion

The Technology Innovations for Creative Diplomacy webinar will provide a timely platform to reflect on the future of diplomacy in the digital age, encouraging innovative, inclusive, and forward-looking approaches to international engagement.

Related actors:

Related people: Daniel Erik Schaer, Katherine Getao

Technology Innovations for Creative Diplomacy

⏰16:00-17:30 EAT / 14:00–15:30 CET

Background and Rationale

Objectives

Format and Expected Outcomes

Conclusion

Technology Innovations for Creative Diplomacy

⏰16:00-17:30 EAT / 14:00–15:30 CET

Background and Rationale

Objectives

Format and Expected Outcomes

Conclusion

Technology Innovations for Creative Diplomacy

⏰16:00-17:30 EAT / 14:00–15:30 CET

Background and Rationale

Objectives

Format and Expected Outcomes

Conclusion

Technology Innovations for Creative Diplomacy

⏰16:00-17:30 EAT / 14:00–15:30 CET

Background and Rationale

Objectives

Format and Expected Outcomes

Conclusion

Unpacking the EU AI Act

29 April 2024 | 13.15 – 14.30

Diplo & GIP, WMO Building, 7bis Avenue de la Paix, Geneva

Organised by

DiploFoundation and Geneva Internet Platform

in partnership with

EU Delegation

Whether you are deeply involved in AI developments, interested in AI governance, or looking to understand the impact of AI on our society, this event on ‘Unpacking EU AI Act’ will provide you with valuable insights and information.

Gabriele Mazzini, the architect and lead author of the EU AI Act at the European Commission (DG Connect), will guide us through this 200+ page-long legislation by elaborating on the overall architecture and, in particular, the provisions in the EU Act of relevance for countries and actors beyond the EU.

Sorina Teleanu, Diplo’s AI governance expert, will provide commentaries. Jovan Kurbalija will moderate the discussion.

Why you should attend

This event offers a unique opportunity to gain insights into:

The specifics of the newly adopted regulations and their implications for AI development and usage.
The impact of these regulations on global AI governance and regulatory trends.
Strategies for compliance and adaptation by businesses, developers, and policymakers worldwide.
The role of international organisations and Geneva in shaping a balanced, equitable, and innovative future for AI technology.

Panellists

Radka Sibille, Digital Affairs Advisor, Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations Office at Geneva (opening remarks)
Gabriele Mazzini, the architect and lead author of EU AI Act at the European Commission (DG Connect)
Sorina Teleanu, Director of Knowledge at DiploFoundation
Jovan Kurbalija, Director of DiploFoundation and Head of Geneva Internet Platform

Who should attend

Diplomats, international officials and policymakers
AI researchers and technologists
Legal professionals and ethicists
Business leaders and entrepreneurs
Students and academics interested in AI Governance

Organisers

The event is organised by Diplo and the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP), in partnership with the EU Delegation.

Venue

The event will be held at Diplo/GIP (WMO building, 7 bis Avenue de la Paix, Geneva).

Register

Participation is free of charge, but there are limited seats available. Registration is closed.

Related actors:

Related people: Gabriele Mazzini, Sorina Teleanu, Jovan Kurbalija

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‘Yes Minister’ as the novel Turing Test for advanced AI

In the rapidly changing landscape of AI, distinguishing between AI and human capabilities becomes increasingly tricky. Once considered the gold standard for assessing machine intelligence, the Turing Test needs an update to account for the sophisticated nuances of human conversation and thought processes.

The British sitcom “Yes Minister” enters the picture as an unconventional but insightful candidate for a new type of Turing Test, joining the flea market, humour, and diplomatic language. The programme, which delves humorously into the complexities of the British political and bureaucratic systems, is an intriguing benchmark for AI’s ability to replicate human-like ambiguity and institutional wisdom.

The image, entitled 'In Search of the New Turing Test', shows four possible sources for a new Turing test: a flea market, jokes and humour, diplomatic language, and Sir Humphrey from the television show Yes Minister

“Yes Minister” chronicles the exploits of Minister Jim Hacker, his secretary Bernard, and the chief bureaucrat Sir Humphrey Appleby. With his mastery of language and deep bureaucratic savvy, Sir Humphrey’s conversations, laden with evasion, ambiguity, and wit, highlight the sophisticated layers of human communication and institutional memory that AI systems like ChatGPT cannot easily emulate.

Avoiding clear answers

Consider Sir Humphrey’s art of avoiding a straight answer. When pressed by Minister Hacker for a clear stance on civil service staffing, Sir Humphrey’s response is a marvel of obfuscation, meandering through qualifiers and hypotheticals without ever arriving at a concrete conclusion. While maintaining logical consistency, this dance of words epitomizes a level of linguistic dexterity and situational awareness that AI struggles to fully replicate despite its advances.

Minister Hacker asks:

When you give your evidence to the think tank, will you support my view that the civil service is overmanned and feather-bedded or not? Yes or no? Straight answer!

Sir Humprehy answers:

Well, Minister, if you ask me for a straight answer, then I shall say that, as far as we can see, looking at it by and large, taking one thing with another in terms of the average of departments, then, in the final analysis, it is probably true to say, that at the end of the day, in general terms, you would probably find that, not to put too fine a point on it, there probably wasn’t very much in it one way or the other as far as one can see, at this stage.

Ambiguities of bureaucratic language

Furthermore, the show delves into the complexities of bureaucratic communication, as exemplified by Bernard’s explanation of the difference between “under consideration” and “under active consideration” – a distinction that humorously reveals the realpolitik of administrative inertia. It underscores the subtleties of institutional language and the tacit knowledge embedded within it, challenging AI to understand and reproduce the underlying social and organizational contexts.

Mr. Bernard explains the bureaucratic language to the minister.

Minister Hacker asks ‘What’s an official reply? ….’

Mr. Bernard: ‘“The matter is under consideration.” Or even, if we feel so inclined, “under active consideration!”’

Minister: ‘What’s the difference between “under consideration” and “under active consideration”?’

Bernard: ‘“Under consideration” means we’ve lost the file. “Under active consideration” means we’re trying to find it!’

(Adapted from ‘The Complete Yes Minister’, p. 33)

Bureaucratic stalling tactics

Sir Humphrey’s stalling tactics introduce another dimension of complexity. His strategic deployment of delaying tactics, from citing the administration’s nascent stage to invoking the imminence of elections, showcases a masterful understanding of institutional dynamics and timing. Replicating such a nuanced, context-dependent strategy requires an AI to grasp the specifics of political maneuvering and anticipate and adapt to human reactions and institutional pressures. Could AI chain prompting mimic Sir Humprhey’s following five-step stalling tactic?

Five steps to bureaucratic stalling

Stage One: Humphrey will say that the administration is in its early months and there’s an awful lot of other things to get on with.

Stage Two: If I persist past Stage One, he’ll say that he quite appreciates the intention, something certainly ought to be done – but is this the right way to achieve it?

Stage Three: If I’m still undeterred he will shift his ground from how I do it to when I do it, i.e. ‘Minister, this is not the time, for all sorts of reasons.’

Stage Four: Lots of Ministers settle for Stage Three. But if not, he will then say that the policy has run into difficulties – technical, political, and/or legal. (Legal difficulties are best because they can be made totally incomprehensible and can go on for ever.)

Stage Five: Finally, because the first four stages have taken up to three years, the last stage is to say that ‘we’re getting rather near to the run-up to the next general election – so we can’t be sure of getting the policy through.’ …

Blame game

The gist of this conversation is who is to blame for the failure of policy initiatives. Responsibility exists in the grey area between the Minister’s political responsibility for introducing policy and the administration’s responsibility for implementing it. Sir Humphrey answers the Minister’s accusation that civil servants failed his policy initiative.

Sir Humphrey Appleby: Yes, yes, yes, I do see that there is a real dilemma here. In that, while it has been government policy to regard policy as a responsibility of Ministers and administration as a responsibility of Officials, the questions of administrative policy can cause confusion between the policy of administration and the administration of policy, especially when responsibility for the administration of the policy of administration conflicts, or overlaps with, responsibility for the policy of the administration of policy.

Taxonomy of bureaucratic silence

Lastly, Sir Humphrey’s taxonomy of bureaucratic silence—discreet, stubborn, and courageous—reveals a sophisticated classification system born from years of navigating conversations and decisions. It is a testament to the depth of understanding and experience of social dynamics, challenging AI to decipher the words and the silence between them.

Sir Humphrey’s taxonomy of bureaucratic silence:

The silence when they do not want to tell you the facts: Discreet Silence.

The silence when they do not intend to take any action: Stubborn Silence.

The silence when you catch them out and they haven’t a leg to stand on. They imply that they could vindicate themselves completely if only they were free to tell all, but they are too honourable to do so: Courageous Silence. (The Complete Yes Minister, pp. 93-4)

In light of these examples, it becomes evident that areas where AI cannot yet compete with human intelligence and creativity include the depth of contextual understanding, emotional intelligence, the subtlety of social interactions, and the ability to navigate complex institutional memories. The nuances of humour, irony, and the unspoken word remain uniquely human territories, underscoring the importance of continuously advancing AI capabilities while acknowledging the irreplaceable value of human insight and creativity.

It invites us to consider how far AI has come and yet how far it still has to go in truly understanding and replicating the full spectrum of human intelligence and creativity.

Chat with Sir Humphrey

If you want to learn more about the Yes Minister Turing Test and other Diplo’s projects on AI you can write to us: ai@diplomacy.edu