AI reshaping diplomacy: Can technology replace human understanding?

Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has integrated an AI tool called NanoClaw into his diplomatic workflow, using it to curate transcripts, speeches, and documents into a searchable database. The tool, built with open-source technology, has become indispensable, with Balakrishnan joking that he no longer dares turn it off. While AI cannot replace human judgment in critical negotiations—such as ending conflicts or resolving geopolitical tensions—it enhances efficiency by handling routine tasks like drafting briefs, synthesizing reports, and preparing speeches. Globally, governments are adopting AI to streamline diplomacy. The U.S. State Department uses AI for document translation and summarization, while the United Nations deployed a platform called Remesh in Libya’s 2020 peace process to gather citizen input via basic mobile phones, amplifying underrepresented voices. The World Bank leverages AI to predict refugee movements from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, enabling better preparedness for aid and infrastructure needs. However, risks persist. AI systems rely on input data quality, and vulnerabilities to hacking or manipulation could lead to strategic errors, warns Asha Hemrajani, a senior fellow at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. She highlights the ‘garbage in, garbage out’ principle, stressing that high-stakes diplomacy requires human accountability. Balakrishnan himself acknowledges that while AI can delegate tasks, it cannot replace human understanding or accountability. Singapore’s exposure to AI-driven disruption is among the highest globally, with Bloomberg Economics estimating 40% of jobs potentially affected—a figure surpassing Sweden, the UK, and the U.S. The shift raises concerns about job displacement, particularly for junior diplomats and policy staff whose roles may increasingly be automated. Despite these challenges, AI’s role in diplomacy is expanding, offering tools to navigate complexity while underscoring the irreplaceable need for human oversight.