Diplo Blog
What’s wrong with doping?
23 April 2025
Trainers, labs, surgeons, psychologists – all boost performance. But doping? That’s banned. Is the real scandal the drugs – or the unequal coronas of support? Aldo Matteucci examines.
Politeness in 2025: Why are we so kind to AI?
23 April 2025
A Fortune study shows that about 80% of users in the UK and USA use polite language, like "please" and "thank you," when interacting with AI. This behavior reflects deep-rooted psychological and cultural influences rather than the nature of AI, as humans often project social norms onto machines. Politeness varies among users, with motivations ranging from intrinsic values to fears of AI dominance. While these courteous interactions may incur costs, they also reinforce our humanity and empathy in an increasingly transactional world, prompting reflection on our relationship with technology.
Linguists in the AI era: From resistance to renaissance
18 April 2025
In the context of Geneva's multilingual landscape, the rise of AI has sparked both concern and opportunity within the linguistic community. While AI will automate many translation and interpretation tasks, linguists are essential for addressing the limitations of AI, particularly in navigating syntax and semantics. By training AI models on low-resource languages, annotating for deeper meaning, and ensuring responsible AI design, linguists can elevate language and preserve cultural nuances. Embracing collaboration with AI technology can lead to a renaissance in the linguistic profession, transforming challenges into opportunities for innovation.
Triumph of diplomacy: The Cuban missile crisis
17 April 2025
Backchannel diplomacy, Cold War diplomacy, Crisis management
The Cuban Missile Crisis pushed humanity to the edge of catastrophe—but it also revealed the quiet strength of diplomacy. In a tense standoff between superpowers, backchannel negotiations and mutual restraint averted disaster.
How concepts get their meaning
17 April 2025
How do words get their meaning? Aldo Matteucci shows how terms like 'dispositif' and 'consul' gain meaning not through definitions, but through repeated use in historical and political contexts.
On the origins of ideas
11 April 2025
Do ideas have origins? From medieval communes to WWI, Aldo Matteucci shows how political thought, like a river, is shaped by experience, institutions, and historical context — not just theory.
Don’t waste the crisis: How AI can help reinvent International Geneva
10 April 2025
International Geneva faces significant challenges, including financial constraints, waning multilateralism, and escalating geopolitical tensions. To remain relevant, it must embrace transformative changes, particularly through Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI can revitalize Geneva's humanitarian efforts, modernize knowledge sharing, and prepare the workforce for the AI-driven future. Proactive strategies should prioritize reskilling, adapting organizational structures to integrate AI, and codifying local knowledge. Furthermore, Geneva has the opportunity to lead in human-centered AI governance, addressing ethical concerns while leveraging its rich legacy. This crisis presents a crucial moment for reinvention through accessible and actionable AI initiatives.
Navigating the AI maze: How to choose the right AI platform or tool
09 April 2025
With over 10,000 AI applications available, selecting the right AI tool can be daunting. Diplo advocates starting with a 'good enough' tool to avoid paralysis by analysis, tailoring it to specific needs through practical use. Their experience with financial AI agents, specifically in analyzing the impact of US tariffs on Novartis, highlights how specialized tools outperform general models by leveraging deep domain expertise, real-time data, and precise calculations. This journey illustrates the importance of understanding AI options and reinforces the effectiveness of targeted, practical approaches to leverage AI capabilities in business scenarios.
Algorithms confront tariffs: A hidden digital front in an emerging trade war
04 April 2025
AI diplomacy, Artificial Intelligence, Digital diplomacy, Economic, Economic diplomacy, Trade diplomacy
President Trump's tariffs on goods have intensified global trade tensions, notably with the EU. However, they largely ignore the critical sector of digital services, where the US holds a strong advantage. In response, European nations have proposed digital services taxes (DSTs) aimed at American tech giants, framing them as necessary for fiscal fairness. The collapse of OECD negotiations has prompted unilateral digital taxes across various countries, escalating the trade conflict. This shift towards digital taxation could redefine international trade diplomacy, posing challenges for US tech dominance and potentially leading to retaliation that affects both goods and digital markets.
Digital sovereignty: The end of the open internet as we know it? (Part 1)
03 April 2025
Diplomatic policy analysis, Economic, Geopolitics, Globalisation, International relations and diplomacy, Internet governance and digital policy, Security
The concept of digital sovereignty has gained prominence. This discussion examines the tension between territorial politics and transborder digital operations, highlighting how demands for autonomy reflect a desire to navigate external influences within an interconnected digital landscape. As sovereignty claims become entwined with security narratives, the necessity to socially anchor digital sovereignty policies is emphasized.
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