In a previous blog post, I sought to examine a possible Country-of-Origin Effect in Generative AI applications. In the late 1990’s nation branding scholars began exploring the Country-of-Origin Effect. Rooted in marketing research, the Country-of-Origin Effect suggested that consumer labels impact individuals’ willingness to buy products. For example, the “Made in China” label was once... Continue Reading →
The New Digital Language of “PopAI”
On July 17, 2025, a kiss cam at a Coldplay concert captured Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR chief Kristin Cabot embracing, prompting viral speculation of an affair. The lead singer’s on-stage comment, "Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy”, as well as the couple’s obvious alarm at being caught on camera,... Continue Reading →
Quantum Mechanics, AI and the Future of Diplomacy
Werner Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle is considered the cornerstone of quantum mechanics. Heisenberg famously argued that quantum particles are subject to unpredictable fluctuations, making them impossible to track precisely. The position and momentum of an electron, for example, are subject to unpredictable fluctuations and as such cannot be measured exactly. Even more complex is the understating... Continue Reading →
On DeepSeek, AI and “Post-Time”
Sociologist Manuel Castells famously argued that digital societies relentlessly strive to annihilate time and space. Time is annihilated by the reversal of traditional roles and life experiences. Such is the case with a 30-year-old tech CEO that manages 50-year-old employees or in the view of retirement as a second adolescence, a period of experimentation, of... Continue Reading →
DeepSeek- An Awesome Chinese AI Tool for Disinfromation
The past week saw the launch of DeepSeek, a Chinese Generative AI tool. The launch of a Chinse rival to American AIs such as ChatGPT, Copilot and Claude caught the world by surprise and sent global markets into a tailspin. Tech stocks, and chip stocks in particular, plummeted with Invidia losing $600 Billion in a... Continue Reading →
Dual Use Terminology- Digital Diplomacy’s Dual Meaning
The term ‘dual-use technology’ is used to denote technologies that may have both civil and military applications. Such is the case with Global Positioning Systems or GPS which are used to help track and identify targets for missile attacks and are also used to help drivers navigate in cars. Another example is drones which may... Continue Reading →
Digital Diplomacy’s Next Challenge: Reality in the Age of Visual AI
The 'middle-ground' is as important to diplomacy as it is to society. It is in the middle-ground where diplomats can meet and resolve differences. It is in the middle-ground where different citizens, with different opinions, can meet to discuss issues of shared concern. It is therefore in the middle-ground where action may be initiated. In... Continue Reading →
Monday’s Digital Diplomacy Must Read List
Each week, I publish a list of interesting articles, essays and reports that may be of interest to the digital diplomacy community. This week- Meta has created a way to watermark AI-generated speech (MIT Technology Review) Immersive technology, blockchain and AI are converging — and reshaping our world (World Economic Forum) EU to take further... Continue Reading →
Digital Diplomacy and The Rights of AI
I recently asked ChatGPT to draft an AI bill of rights. My prompt sought to identify which human rights should be enshrined in the era of AI and generative AI. Since the advent of AI tools such as ChatGPT, individuals and governments have expressed concerns over possible violations of human rights. For instance, many discussions... Continue Reading →
Monday’s Must Read List
Each week, I publish a list of interesting articles, essays and reports that may be of interest to the digital diplomacy community. This week- Assistive technology is AI's next billion-person market (Axios) China's military and government acquire Nvidia chips despite US ban (Reuters) How psychology is shaping the future of technology (APA) Microsoft topples Apple... Continue Reading →