What are diplomatic competencies for the AI era?

In my previous blog post, Why AI Will Make Diplomacy More Important, I argued that AI will enhance the relevance of diplomacy. Now, let’s consider the competencies diplomats will need to succeed in an AI-driven world: What talents, knowledge, and skills are essential for negotiation, representation, and effective participation in international relations in the coming years?

AI will reshape the diplomatic profession by handling much of the repetitive paperwork, freeing diplomats to focus on the core aspects of their role: engaging with people, listening, and solving problems. To prepare for this shift, diplomats should concentrate on developing three key competencies: talents, knowledge, and skills.

Talents

Talents are natural abilities that people are born with. They come from who you are, your family, your culture, and your experiences growing up. While we can’t teach talents, we can help people improve them. At Diplo, we have identified 23 important talents for diplomats, and several are especially crucial for the AI era: curiosity, being a good listener, creativity, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous learning. These talents help diplomats use new technology while staying connected with people.

Knowledge

Knowledge means understanding facts and ideas. We gain knowledge through school, work, and life experiences. In the AI era, diplomats need to understand technology. They need to know how AI works and how it is used. This includes understanding data, privacy, safety, and the rules and ethics that come with AI. With this knowledge, diplomats can participate in important discussions about AI and its impact on the world.

Skills

Skills are abilities that can be learned and improved with practice. In the AI era, diplomats will need both traditional and new skills. Traditional skills like effective communication, understanding different cultures, and problem-solving will still be very important. However, new skills such as creating effective prompts for AI, analyzing data, and using AI for decision-making will also be necessary. Diplomats will need to work well with AI, combining human judgment with machine efficiency to make better decisions.

How talents, knowledge, and skills work together

Talents, knowledge, and skills are all interconnected. Talents form the foundation for building skills and knowledge. They help diplomats learn and adapt to new situations. Knowledge provides the context and understanding needed to use skills effectively. Skills, especially those needed for high-level performance, improve through practice and targeted development.

As AI takes over repetitive tasks, diplomats will be able to focus more on what really matters—engaging, negotiating, and understanding people. These core activities have always been at the heart of diplomacy, and AI will make these skills even more essential.

Preparing for the AI era

AI is already changing diplomacy, and we need to be ready. How can we help today’s diplomats learn the new skills they need? How do we train the next generation of diplomats? And how can we create environments that help diplomats use their talents, knowledge, and skills effectively? These are important questions as we move forward and ensure diplomacy continues to work well in a world shaped by AI.

The conversation about the competencies diplomats need for the AI era is just beginning. By embracing these changes, we can make diplomacy stronger and ready for the future.