30 JUNE 2024 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL We need to go beyond making existing datasets accessible, though. In 2016, then–Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Heather Higginbottom worked with MITRE and IDEO to develop a series of recommendations on knowledge management, including an information framework. We need to revive that work, building toward a common data model that covers the core aspects of our diplomatic work: associating our information with the issues, organizations, relationships, contacts, and actions that we are taking. Open Information-Sharing. Nurturing a culture that values and practices open information-sharing is essential for maximizing the potential of AI. This involves breaking down silos, encouraging collaboration, and ensuring that information is readily available to those who need it, when they need it. We will need ongoing training and a shift in organizational culture to value and reward collaboration and innovation. But above all, this takes a leadership commitment to shifting the organizing paradigm around information. Information is power. Our goal at the department should be to make every one of our diplomats powerful with the information and nuance necessary. This is a scary leap for many leaders, myself included. People will make mistakes. We have to help our teams learn from those mistakes by providing honest feedback about the impact and consequences of their actions and helping them improve. And I know our diplomatic corps will master working in this new, more open environment, just as we have in the past. Human Relationships. Ultimately, the success of diplomacy hinges on the quality of human relationships. It’s time to rethink our culture and technology so they enhance our operations, enabling our people to focus on the human element of diplomatic engagement. By embracing data accessibility, fostering a culture of open information-sharing, and reaffirming the primacy of human connections, the State Department can leverage AI not only to enhance its operational efficiency but also to elevate its diplomatic mission. As we stand at the crossroads of tradition and innovation, the choices made today will shape the future of diplomacy for generations to come. The promise of AI in diplomacy is too great to ignore, and the time to act is now. n
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