AI Apprenticeship
AI Apprenticeship
in governance, diplomacy, and international relations
Knowledge and skills for the AI era
Start date:
1 October 2024
Application deadline:
Closed
Why AI Apprenticeship?
Prepare for AI transformation by experiencing firsthand how academic institutions, diplomatic services, and international organisations will evolve in the AI era. Engage in visionary exercises to acquire practical skills and knowledge about AI.
Learning by doing
You’ll explore generative AI (genAI) tools by actively using them and applying your AI knowledge to areas of personal interest such as international relations, digital governance, and tech diplomacy. You can select from Diplo’s tentative list of topics or propose your own.
The programme will be delivered online. The Autumn 2024 edition will be conducted over three months, requiring 5-8 hours per week.
Diplo’s methodology
Comprehensive AI curriculum
Learn about AI from basic concepts of patterns and probability to advanced algorithms, neural networks, and machine learning.
Practical skills
Develop AI applications by gaining new skills, from data curating to prompting and assigning AI ‘weights’.
‘Touching AI’
Experience in vivo how changes in data, prompts and weights impact answers generated by AI.
Expert guidance
Learn from experts on AI and diplomacy who will guide you based on experience in developing AI tools for diplomacy.
Networking opportunities
Participate in an emerging community of future leaders in AI governance and diplomacy.
Programme overview
Oct
Knowledge
- AI functioning, main models, and approaches
- Relevance of data for AI platforms
- Introduction to prompting techniques
Skills
- Introduction to prompting Design and refinement of prompts
- Development of initial AI
- Creation of a topical dataset
Nov
Knowledge
- Significance of ‘weights’ in AI models
- Reinforced learning
- Advanced prompting (e.g., chaining)
Skills
- Fine-tuning of data models
- Review of AI responses
- Adjustments to prompts
Dec
Knowledge
- AI agents and advanced cognitive strategies
- Handling issues like AI hallucinations
Skills
- In-depth content analysis and feedback
- Evaluation of AI agents used by the Diplo AI
- Finalisation of prompts
- Promotion of AI assistant
Who should apply
The AI Apprenticeship is ideal for scholars and practitioners in diplomacy, global governance, and international relations. The most creative and successful participants will become Diplo’s AI Fellows and join Diplo’s research and teaching activities.
Tentative list of topics for developing AI assistants
Candidates can suggest other topics as well
DIPLOMACY
Cyber mediation
Integrate AI assistant also into the topic’s dedicated page; review the latest literature in the field, and connect with key actors.
Comparative analysis of the use of different types of prefixes – digital, cyber, online, virtual
Examine how various prefixes—digital, cyber, online, and virtual—are used to describe the effects of technology on society.
Diplomacy of small states
Explore the challenges small states face in the international arena and how digital technologies can help them overcome these challenges.
African digital diplomacy and governance
Explore how Africa can participate more effectively in regional and international governance and policy processes and become an influential global player.
History of diplomacy
Explore how diplomacy has evolved over the centuries and identify the major drivers of change. Assess the role that various technologies of each era played in this evolution.
Impact of digital technologies on public diplomacy
This topic examines how digital technologies, particularly AI, have transformed public diplomacy. It explores whether these tools enhance or challenge diplomatic efforts and how they influence international communication and shape perceptions.
Impact of digital technologies on negotiations
This topic explores how digital technologies, including AI, big data, and communication platforms, affect the negotiation process.
AI and DATA
AI standards
Create a ‘one-stop’ space for AI standards, which will include a survey of standardisation initiatives in ISO, ITU, IETF and other organisations; organise standardisation initiatives in accordance with the issues they address.
EU AI Act
Further, develop smart access to the content of the EU AI Act, which will identify relevant articles and provide answers to the questions.
EU and content governance, including disinformation (instruments, policies, and practices)
Provide a summary of all EU’s instruments and practices related to content governance: main instruments, court cases and policy initiatives.
Data nationalism worldwide
Explore and contrast data localisation policies in major countries such as India, China, Russia, etc.
INTERNET AND DIGITAL GOVERNANCE
EU and content governance, including disinformation (instruments, policies, and practices)
Provide a summary of all EU instruments and practices related to content governance, including main instruments, court cases, and policy initiatives.
EU relations with tech companies in the context of DSA and DMA
Opportunities and challenges of using AI for content moderation and risk mitigation (in combination with cybercrime; Better internet for kids+ the EU strategy).
Addressing digital risks in national policy processes and elections
Address digital risks in the 2024 elections, with a primary focus on AI. Lessons learned and the roles of big tech, governments, and key actors, particularly the EU.
Cyber risks for children on Metaverse gaming platforms
This AI assistant will focus on:
- Applicability of EU DSA
- Overall cyber risks for children on Metaverse gaming platforms
- EU policy in this field
Role of International Geneva in digital and internet governance
Provide a summary of all initiatives and processes on digital and internet governance in International Geneva.
