In today's rapidly changing world, diplomacy is undergoing a revolutionary transformation. Imagine ambassadors using artificial intelligence to analyze millions of social media posts in real time, crisis responses guided by predictive analytics, and complex negotiations enhanced by unprecedented data-driven insights. This isn't the futureit's diplomacy today, reimagined through AI.
Drawing on over 21 years of experience integrating technology into foreign affairs, Donald Kilburg, a retired U.S. diplomat, reveals how AI is revolutionizing diplomatic engagement, crisis management, and public diplomacy. From enhancing communication strategies to optimizing consular services, each chapter presents a vivid exploration of AI's potential to amplify the effectiveness of diplomatic missions across the globe.
Readers will discover practical strategies for implementing AI in diplomatic operations, gain insights into the future of AI-driven global governance, and learn whencruciallynot to use AI at all. Through vivid case studies and real-world examples, this book illuminates both the opportunities and ethical complexities at the intersection of technology and international relations.
Whether you're a diplomatic practitioner, a student of international affairs, or fascinated by technology's impact on global relationships, this groundbreaking guide charts the course for diplomacy's next evolutionwhere human wisdom and artificial intelligence converge to address our world's most pressing challenges.
Drawing on over 21 years of experience integrating technology into foreign affairs, the author reveals how AI is revolutionizing diplomatic engagement, crisis management, and public diplomacy. Through real-world examples, this book shows the opportunities and ethical complexities at the intersection of tech and international relations.
Preface Acknowledgements Statement on AI Use in Writing this Book
Introduction
1. Diplomacy in the Age of AI: Leveraging Smart Machines to
Build Relationships
2. Executive Leadership in Diplomacy: Guiding Missions in
an AI-Driven World
3. AI and Political Affairs: Advancing Foreign Policy with
AI-Driven Insights
4. AI and Economic Affairs: Supercharging Trade,
Investment, and Innovation
5. AI and Management Affairs: Transforming
Diplomatic Operations
6. AI and Consular Affairs: Optimizing Visa, Passport,
and Citizen Services
7. AI and Public Affairs: Amplifying Engagement and
Influence
8. AI in Diplomatic Security: Protecting the Mission
9. AI and
Diplomatic Technology: Using Smart Tools to Advance Diplomacy
10. AI and
Interdisciplinary Diplomacy: Leveraging AI for Whole-of-Government Action
11.
When Not to Use AI in Diplomacy: Preserving Humanity, Judgment, and Trust
12.
Building AI Capacity and an AI Mindset: Beyond Use Cases Conclusion: Shaping
the Future of Diplomacy with AI Epilogue: Diplomacy Beyond Nation-States?
Appendix A Appendix B Glossary Bibliography Statement of Independence and
Compliance
Donald Kilburg is a retired U.S. diplomat, global strategist, and psychologist with a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology, who has spent over 30 years applying social science and technology to foreign affairs. He lived, studied, and worked across five continents, bringing an interdisciplinary approach to international policy and governance.
A U.S. Foreign Service officer from 2003 to 2025, Dr. Kilburg specialized in public diplomacy and strategic communication, with diplomatic assignments spanning public affairs, consular services, logistics, intelligence, and research. He served as Spokesperson for the Energy Resources Bureau and Assistant Spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China, engaging on critical issues at the intersection of policy, energy, and international relations. His diplomatic career included formal training in Japanese, Spanish, Chinese, and Russian. His innovations in diplomacy and technology earned him multiple Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards from the U.S. Department of State.
A U.S. Army veteran and former university professor, Dr. Kilburg is a strong advocate for the scientist-practitioner approach and remains an active thought leader, contributing to academic research, public discourse, and innovation in governance, while mentoring the next generation of professionals at the intersection of technology and diplomacy.
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