AI Use Cases for Public Diplomacy Applying AI to Public Affairs and Strategic Communication

Part 1: The Core Cycle  1. Strategic Audience Insight - AI for Knowing and Reaching the Right People  2. Crafting Impactful Messaging with AI  3. Media Monitoring, Disinformation, and Narrative Intelligence  4. Engaging Audiences through Smart Digital Diplomacy  Part 2: Strengthening Practice  5. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Program Optimization with AI  6. Crisis Communication in the Age of AI  7. Ethics, Trust, and Responsible AI in Public Diplomacy  Part 3: Expanding Impact  8. AI for Cultural and Educational Diplomacy  9. Collaborative Diplomacy - AI for Multilateral Campaigns  10. From Innovation to Integration - A Roadmap for AI-Ready Public Diplomacy

Biography

Don Kilburg is a retired U.S. diplomat, experimental psychologist, and U.S. Army veteran with over 30 years of public service. His Foreign Service career spanned five continents, four languages, and postings from Beijing to the former Soviet Union, including service as Spokesperson for the Bureau of Energy Resources and Press Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. A pioneer of AI adoption at the State Department, his innovations earned him multiple Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards. He is the author of AI Use Cases for Diplomats (Routledge, 2025) and Founder & CEO of Mind Leap Institute.

"Should be required reading for any diplomat grappling with the complexity of artificial intelligence and the modern information environment."

Xander Vagg, AI and national security professional; former defense consultant

"Don Kilburg gives current and future public diplomacy practitioners a much-needed guide to what is happening in AI at this moment and how to best use AI in reaching foreign publics. His examples show how AI is and can be deployed in the field, as well as the potential pitfalls if diplomats rush to automate too much, too soon and do not consider cultural context, language nuance, ethics, and the need for human oversight. The casual reader or researcher who wants to learn more about the art and science of public diplomacy will also find the vignettes a good peek into both the everyday considerations and the emergencies embassies face."

Robin Holzhauer, Retired U.S. Foreign Service Officer and Senior Editor, Diplomatic Diary

"Very timely. AI tools are already shaping how public diplomacy is practiced, often faster than policies, training, or institutional norms can keep up. Practitioners are experimenting in real time, while also dealing with deepfakes, synthetic media, and faster-moving narrative cycles. This book meets the field exactly where it is right now… It gives readers a practical way to think about how AI can support core public diplomacy functions (listening, messaging, monitoring, engagement, evaluation) while also being honest about the risks and tradeoffs."

Alexander Hunt, Public affairs professional and recipient of the Ameri Prize for Innovation in Public Diplomacy