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Diplo in September 2024

03 October 2024
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September was an exciting and dynamic month at Diplo, marking a lively start to the academic and diplomatic season. Our classrooms were buzzing with activity and meaningful exchanges while we organised various events and spoke at panels and conferences in Geneva and worldwide.

On the research front, our efforts led to the release of new books, articles, and blog posts. We also delivered just-in-time reporting from two major global events: the Summit of the Future and the UN General Assembly. Below is a summary of the main activities in the last month.


Courses

Our hypertext-based pedagogy fostered highly interactive courses illustrated by…

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2774

… annotations (comments and questions) made by 164 students in 6 online courses.

Each annotation is akin to asking questions or commenting in a traditional classroom. In September alone, students “raised their hands” and contributed nearly 100 times daily, fostering active engagement.

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Last month, we fine-tuned our pedagogy for the AI era, ensuring interactive and meaningful learning with tools like ChatGPT in the classroom.

This approach will be implemented in the AI Apprenticeship programme starting October 1st, where apprentices will learn about AI by developing AI.

They will create new AI apps on Digital Global Compact, future literacy, International Geneva, children’s rights, Africa’s digital transformation, and much more.


Events

Over the past month, Diplo hosted several events and actively participated in events organised by others.

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3 September

The high-level discussion explored the impact of AI on core human rights.

Jovan Kurbalija, as a panellist, focused on the impact of AI on forming our opinions and our right not to be optimised in the race with AI and machines. Diplo also provided an AI report from the high-level discussion. 
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4 September

Sorina Teleanu started the autumn season of a Tech Attache briefing with updates on the summer developments (UN Cybercrime Convention) and negotiations on the UN Global Digital Compact. 

Diplo INSTA Kautilya in Modern Governance and
5 September

Kautilya’s Arthashastra, one of the world’s oldest and most comprehensive treatises on the science of statecraft, offers profound insights into the administration of justice, management of security, and political strategies. Diplo hosted a discussion with Professor Subrata Mitra to get input from other cultural, religious, and philosophical traditions in the development of AI governance.   

Blavatnik School of Government
9-10 September

Everyday interactions are mediated by algorithms, significantly impacting the individual, economies, and wider society. The AI-as-a-service global market is growing rapidly, and governments are struggling to regulate this. Marilia Maciel contributed to the debate with Diplo’s experience in AI technologies and governance. 

bulgarian diplomatic institute
27 Septemer

Jovan Kurbalija delivered a Master Briefing on ‘Demystifying AI for diplomats’ for Bulgarian diplomats and researchers at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sofia. On behalf of Diplo, he also received an award, ‘Docendo Discimus, from the Bulgarian Institute of Diplomacy.

EBU
28 September

Jovan Kurbalija delivered a keynote address on ‘AI: Explore the transformative impact of AI on the media industry’ at the EBU Leadership Summit in Sofia, hosted by the Bulgarian National Radio and EBU. He focused on the role of public services media in raising public awareness of AI and protecting national heritage in the AI era. 

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30 September

On the occasion of publishing the 500th issue of DiploNews, Diplo staff and associates reflected on professional, academic, and diplomatic developments over the past 25 years.

Diplo INSTA GIZ Decoding
30 September
Diplo presented the results of a 10-month research project on disinformation, with a primary focus on decoding disinformation through several case studies.

Just-in-Time Reporting

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24-30 September
Diplo also reported on the general debate during the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. You can find summary report, transcripts, coverage of AI and digital issues, knowledge graph of arguments and statements, event statistics, and AI chatbot based on statements delivered during UNGA 78.  

Blogs and Analysis

2 September

No! There is no cyberspace!  Pavel Durov faced this simple truth when he was detained on 24 August in Paris. The owner of Telegram and one of the moguls of…

5 September

The term ‘ambassador’ has fallen far from its original diplomatic prestige and is now often used for celebrities or corporate PR. Has its true meaning become a casualty of commodification?…

7 September

Is cyberspace still a realm of freedom, or has it become defined by control and surveillance? With commercialisation and geopolitical tensions rising, are we trading too much privacy for security?…

18 September

Blindly believing in state rationality can lead to disaster. Historical mistakes, from Brest-Litovsk to unrestricted warfare, show the dangers of ignoring past lessons. 

23 September

Diplomatic extraterritoriality isn’t absolute but a tool shaped by political necessity. Examples from historic ambassadors to Assange show how its application is influenced by power dynamics. 

29 September

The 500th issue of DiploNews reflects on the evolution of digital diplomacy over 25 years, highlighting the confusion surrounding the terms “digital,” “cyber,” and “tech.” Experts face challenges due to…

30 September

When we explain concepts to others, we are challenged to clarify our own thinking, explore different perspectives, and address new questions. This dynamic exchange helps refine our understanding, making teaching a powerful tool for both personal growth and collective learning.


Ahead of us

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