Dr Martin Waehlisch is the inaugural Associate Professor of Transformative Technology, Innovation, and Global Affairs at the University of Birmingham, with a joint appointment at the School of Government and the School of Computer Science. He previously served for more than a decade as a political adviser at the United Nations, where he led the Innovation Cell in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. His research focuses on the intersection of emerging technologies and global policy, exploring how artificial intelligence, GovTech, and digital tools are shaping diplomacy, peacebuilding, and governance. In December, Dr Waehlisch will contribute to the Executive Course in Diplomacy in a New International Order with a session on GovTech and Digital Diplomacy, inviting participants to reflect on the opportunities and challenges of digital transformation in international affairs.
Artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies are fundamentally transforming how diplomacy is conducted and how international cooperation unfolds. On the one hand, they open up entirely new possibilities for data-driven decision-making, predictive analysis, and interactive engagement across borders. What once sounded like science fiction, AI tools supporting conflict analysis or digital platforms enabling real-time policy coordination, is now becoming a reality.
At the same time, the complexity of these technologies is often underestimated. Some problems that might appear straightforward, such as making algorithms transparent or ensuring equitable data access, are in fact extremely difficult to solve. Conversely, capabilities that once seemed far-fetched, like using machine learning to detect disinformation at scale, are now within reach. For diplomacy, this duality means that practitioners must sharpen their mindset: to remain open to aspirational futures while being realistic about technical challenges and political sensitivities.
Ultimately, AI is not simply a technical add-on to diplomacy. It is reshaping the very fabric of how international actors interact, negotiate, and cooperate, demanding a rethinking of skills, values, and institutions.
I am very excited about this session because it is not only about knowledge transfer, but about building a mindset and capacity for interactive work. I hope participants will come away with three main insights.
First, the importance of data literacy. In today’s world, diplomats cannot afford to treat technology as a “black box.” They need to understand how digital infrastructures and AI systems shape governance, security, and communication.
Second, the value of AI capacity building. We must equip practitioners not only to use existing tools, but also to critically assess their implications, adapt them to local contexts, and anticipate second-order effects.
Third, the practice of interactive, future-oriented thinking. Much of what we will discuss is aspirational, imagining how diplomacy could evolve in a digital-first era. By engaging in interactive exercises, participants can explore scenarios where digital technologies both enable and complicate cooperation. This process helps sharpen the mindset needed for navigating uncertainty.
The opportunities are enormous. Technology can expand participation in global affairs, make governance more transparent, and provide new tools for conflict prevention and peacebuilding. From digital platforms that connect communities across divides to AI systems that help analyse early-warning signals, the potential is transformative.
Yet challenges are equally significant. Policymakers must grapple with issues of digital inequality, governance of AI systems, and the risks of misuse, whether through disinformation, surveillance, or militarisation of emerging technologies. What complicates the picture further is that some of the most pressing issues, like algorithmic fairness or ensuring interoperability across platforms, are not easily solved.
Therefore, the priority should be mindset-building: cultivating the capacity to approach these technologies critically, with humility about what is difficult, and with imagination about what is possible. Policymakers should foster inclusive dialogues, strengthen digital institutions, and support innovation that is aligned with democratic values and peacebuilding goals.
In short, technology will not automatically contribute to peace and governance; it must be shaped to do so. That requires literacy, capacity, and above all, interactive collaboration across sectors and borders.
Learn more about the Executive Course in Diplomacy in a New International Order on our website.
