On 12 June 2024, the Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs (DVIFA) and the Diplomatic Academy (DA) of Slovenia jointly organized an online lecture on “AI Governance and Foreign Policy.” The lecture was co-chaired by Ms. Thitiporn Chirasawadi, Director of the DVIFA, and Dr. Andraz Zidar, Head of the DA.

               On this occasion, 3 distinguished Slovenian experts in AI presented the audience with information and perspectives on the related topics; (1) Dr. Andraz Zidar, Head of the DA, provided the current progress and future direction of AI governance under the frameworks of UNESCO, UN, EU and Council of Europe; (2) Dr. Ales Dobnikar, Member of the Strategic and Analytical Sector, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia, depicted how AI was applied in contemporary diplomacy; and (3) Prof. Dr. John Shawe-Taylor, Director of the International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI) under the auspices of UNESCO, illustrated the formation and roles of the IRCAI as research platforms on AI and sustainable development for members of the private sector, startups, and non-governmental organizations.

               The lecture was very well received by more than 80 online participants from various departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand as well as Royal Thai Embassies abroad. All lecturers and participants agreed that AI was a cutting edge technology that could benefit the world in all dimensions, yet there remained some important issues that had to be addressed and prepared for including data security, personal rights, copy right, intellectual right as well as distribution of opportunities and accessibility. In this regard, diplomats had an important role to play in ensuring that AI would be applied with cautions, inclusivity and for the benefit of mankind.