Diplo Blog
Part 2: ‘CitiVerse: Turning the world into a global village (or rather sandbox?)’
19 February 2025
Artificial Intelligence, Infrastructure, Internet governance and digital policy
The CitiVerse Initiative is testing how AI, digital twins, and virtual worlds can enhance urban life. Can this technology-driven approach create more inclusive and sustainable cities? Dr Anita Lamprecht explores
Ethics and AI | Part 2
18 February 2025
AI ethics is not a mere extension of traditional moral principles but an inflection point that challenges how we define responsibility, oversight, and trust in technology. While AI itself remains morally neutral, the ethical burden rests on humans at every stage—design, development, and deployment—making human oversight the crucial element in ensuring ethical AI use.
Part 1: Harnessing technology, driving SDGs
12 February 2025
AI diplomacy, Artificial Intelligence, Digital diplomacy, Infrastructure, Internet governance and digital policy
Can the metaverse accelerate progress towards the SDGs? In a new blog series, Dr Anita Lamprecht analyses how UN 2.0 is harnessing digital technologies to drive global cooperation and sustainable development. Part 1 of the metaverse blog series 'UN 2.0 and the Metaverse: Are We Seeing What Is Possible?'
The Paris AI Summit: A Diplomatic Failure or a Strategic Success?
12 February 2025
The recent AI summit in Paris, while perceived as a diplomatic setback due to the absence of U.S. and U.K. support, successfully reframed the global AI agenda. Unlike previous summits, it shifted focus from long-term safety concerns to immediate issues like innovation, job creation, and public good. Vice-President Vance’s speech emphasized the need for AI to serve societal interests rather than those of entrenched corporations. By advocating for a more pragmatic approach to AI governance and inclusion, the summit marked a significant evolution in addressing AI's real-world impacts, setting the stage for future discussions on responsible AI development.
Ethics and AI | Part 1
11 February 2025
AI innovation is evolving rapidly, often outpacing laws and ethical safeguards, leaving regulators struggling to keep up. While technology promises efficiency and progress, it also carries risks that only become clear once harm is done. As governments and industries grapple with accountability, the question remains: Who should take charge of ensuring AI serves the public good?
Do we really need specialised AI regulation?
09 February 2025
Most likely not. Many existing laws are applicable to AI as well. This text aims to spark debate and bring greater clarity to society’s response to AI. Before enacting new AI laws, we must first ask whether current legal rules can effectively regulate AI. This is the case with, among others, consumer protection, data governance, […]
AI-generated content and IP rights: Challenges and policy considerations
07 February 2025
Artificial Intelligence, Intellectual property rights, Internet governance and digital policy, Legal and regulatory
AI is reshaping content creation, but who owns the rights? Diplo alumnus Kelvin Nkai explores the legal and ethical challenges of AI-generated work, from copyright to inventorship.
How Gen Z took us by surprise: The unexpected journey of Serbian students
05 February 2025
Citizen engagement, Communication, Democracy, Freedom of expression, Human rights, Media, Principles and values, Rights of future generations, Social media
Imagine 100,000 people standing in utmost silence for 15 minutes, with their phone flashlights pointed at the sky. They pay tribute to the 15 innocent people who died under the rubble of the collapsed, newly reconstructed eave of the railway station in the city of Novi Sad, Serbia. 100,000 students and supporting citizens, standing still and united in palpable silence, in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Those present witnessed a moment that sent a chill up their spine.
DeepSeek: Some trade-related aspects of the breakthrough
31 January 2025
Artificial Intelligence, E-commerce and trade, Economic, Geopolitics, Semiconductor diplomacy, Semiconductors
DeepSeek's release of a cost-effective large language model has sparked discussions about trade and technology access. This innovation showcases how export controls, like those imposed by the US, can hinder technological advancement while also driving creativity. DeepSeek's open-source approach promotes accountability and allows developing countries to leverage AI solutions, potentially leveling the playing field. The shift towards open-source models may also encourage smaller players to create tailored AI systems, fostering a collaborative environment rather than a competitive race. Consequently, trade and technological diffusion can significantly enhance global economic growth and innovation.
Why did the 21st century start on 20 January 2025?
The 21st century is considered to have started on 20 January 2025, marked by two significant events: Donald Trump's return to power and the launch of DeepSeek, a transformative open-source AI. Trump's presidency symbolizes the end of U.S. global leadership, while DeepSeek's release indicates a shift from industrial to cognitive capitalism. This new era is characterized by political fragmentation and a techno-cognitive revolution, challenging traditional power structures. The concept of "long centuries" reflects the enduring socio-political forces shaping history, with the long 20th century concluding in 2025, paving the way for a new epoch of volatility and innovation.
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