Once the global stage for peace negotiations and humanitarian accords, Geneva finds itself at the heart of a new kind of diplomacy shaped by algorithms, data flows, and AI. Jovan Kurbalija, Executive Director of Diplo and Head of the Geneva Internet Platform, believes this transformation reflects Geneva's long tradition of engaging with science, technology, and global governance. He explained this in an interview with Leman Bleu.

Diplo, a Swiss-Maltese foundation, supports diplomats and international professionals as they navigate the increasingly complex landscape of digital governance.

'Where we once trained them to understand the internet,' Kurbalija explains, 'we now help them grasp and negotiate issues around AI and digital tools.'

The foundation not only aids diplomats in addressing cyber threats and data privacy but also equips them with AI-enhanced tools for negotiation, public communication, and consular protection.

According to Kurbalija, digital governance touches everyone. From how our phones are built to how data moves across borders, nearly 50 distinct issues-from cybersecurity and e-commerce to data protection and digital standards-are debated in the corridors of International Geneva. These debates are no longer reserved for specialists because they affect the everyday lives of billions.

Kurbalija draws a fascinating connection between Geneva's philosophical heritage and today's technological dilemmas. Writers like Mary Shelley, Voltaire, and Borges, each with ties to Geneva, grappled with themes eerily relevant today: unchecked scientific ambition, the tension between freedom and control, and the challenge of processing vast amounts of knowledge. He dubs this tradition 'EspriTech de Gen