AI Use Cases for Diplomats: Applying Artificial Intelligence to Diplomacy

In today’s rapidly changing world, diplomacy is undergoing a revolutionary transformation. Imagine ambassadors using artificial intelligence (AI) 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 future--it’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 when--crucially--not 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 evolution--where human wisdom and AI converge to address our world’s most pressing challenges.

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.