DiploNews – Issue 480 – 1 December 2023

4 December 2023:

• High-Level Opening Session (Dr Jovan Kurbalija will introduce Diplo’s hybrid reporting)
• Scenario of the Future With the Youth (session by Diplo, UNCTAD, and FES)

6 December 2023:

• Sessions organised by Diplo:
  – Digital Economy Agreements and the Future of Digital Trade Rulemaking (session by Diplo and CUTS)
  – Bottom-up AI and the Right to be Humanly Imperfect (session by Diplo)
• Diplo’s experts will participate in the following sessions:
  – Employing AI for Consumer Grievance Redressal Mechanisms (session by CUTS International; Diplo’s Marilia Maciel will be a key speaker)
  – G20 Contributions to Digital Economy and Digitalization for Development (session by the Permanent Missions of Indonesia and Saudi Arabia; Dr Jovan Kurbalija will be a key speaker)
  – High-Level Panel Discussion on the Digital Economy in the Age of AI: Implications for Developing Countries (session by the UNCTAD Secretariat; Dr Jovan Kurbalija will be a key speaker)

You can find more information and related articles on our UNCTAD eWeek 2023 page.

◆ Geneva Dialogue: The launch of the Geneva Manual (7 Dec.)

How do we translate diplomatic agreements and existing cyber norms into real security for us all?

Join us on Thursday, 7 December (10:00–16:30 CET) as we discuss vulnerabilities in digital products and networks, cyberthreats, security concerns, responsibilities, and cooperation between states and non-state actors.

During this event, we will also launch and discuss the Geneva Manual, a comprehensive guide to the contributions of non-state actors in implementing cyber norms. Register to join live!

Blogs and publications

◆ Four seasons of AI: From excitement to clarity in the year of ChatGPT

ChatGPT was launched by OpenAI a year ago, triggering considerable excitement. On this first anniversary, Jovan Kurbalija takes a step back to reflect and see what lies ahead of us. Read the blog post.

◆ As ChatGPT turns one, can Geneva help reconcile tech and ethics?

On the commemoration of World International Negotiations Day and the first anniversary of ChatGPT, Jovan Kurbalija examines the art of (and battle for) compromise, and discusses Geneva’s role in harmonising technological and ethical progress. This article has been published on the Geneva Solutions website. Read the article.

◆ How can legal wisdom from 19th-century Montenegro and Valtazar Bogišić help AI regulation?

Jovan Kurbalija draws parallels between the legal wisdom of Valtazar Bogišić (the drafter of the Montenegrin civil code in 1888) and today’s challenges in regulating AI. According to Kurbalija, Bogišić’s methodology of seamlessly blending tradition with innovation is strikingly relevant today. As we grapple with the complexities of governing AI, combining societal traditions with the latest technological developments becomes crucial. Read the blog post.

◆ ‘Soft power’ is nothing more than influence

Is the term ‘soft power’ just a redundant buzzword in government and academic circles? Geoff R. Berridge examines its true meaning and how it’s often misunderstood in international relations. Read the blog post.

◆ A tale of Incan communal knowledge and Plato’s elite rulers

What’s more reliable: a bridge built on centuries-old, proven knowledge, or a state governed by inexperienced elite ‘philosopher kings’? Aldo Matteucci looks at the contrast between communal wisdom and elite-driven governance. Read the blog post.

◆ DW Weekly

Published every Monday, the Digital Watch weekly newsletter brings you the latest in digital policy from around the world, plus a new week-ahead section.

• Issue #137: Biden-Xi meeting outcomes | Sam Altman moving to Microsoft | US Senate’s new AI transparency bill | Meta and others challenge EU’s Digital Markets Act gatekeeper status
• Issue #138: EU warring on AI Act | OpenAI – Last week’s episode | India warns social media giants on content | Binance hit with historic USD 4.2 billion fine

Latest videos

◆ The Enlightenment and Geneva (Byte-sized Insights #7)

In this latest video in the Byte-sized Insights series, Dr Jovan Kurbalija briefly explores the Enlightenment’s impact on Geneva with Rousseau and Voltaire, with particular reference to contrasting views on individualism and societal intervention.

◆ Human rationality & progress (Byte-sized Insights #6)

Modernity and humanity are the two pillars upon which the Enlightenment has shaped world history.

In this video from the Byte-sized Insights series, Dr Jovan Kurbalija discusses the dynamic relationship between modernity and humanity in the age of AI, exploring the evolving tensions and risks at the intersection of progress and human agency.

◆ Big Tech Owes Billions (DWshorts #18)

In the latest DWshorts, Su Sonia Herring talks about:

• Big Tech owing billions of dollars to news publishers
• YouTube implementing the mandatory disclosure for AI-generated content

Don’t miss…

◆ Ebook: ‘Diplomacy and Globalization: Theorizing, Cases and Synergies’

This book, written by Ambassador Milan Jazbec, demonstrates the undeniable intertwinement of globalisation and diplomacy, and their co-dependence. On one hand, diplomacy is undoubtedly one of the strongest pillars of the world community; on the other hand, it is also one of the most adaptable, with the capability to quickly adjust to the ever-changing relationships within global society. Read more about this publication.

◆ Discussion: New Metaverse Frontiers for National Governments (6 Dec.)

Diplo’s Director for Digital Policy Dr Stephanie Borg Psaila will participate in the discussion New Metaverse Frontiers for National Governments. The event is part of The Metaverse Spectrum Business Conference & Expo, and will be held online on Wednesday, 6 December 2023, at 10:00 EST (15:00 UTC). Read more.

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