Reprogramming Diplomacy: AI in the Great Powers Competition

Reprogramming Diplomacy: AI in the Great Powers Competition | Navigating in Balance: a podcast by ‪@3GIMBALS‬

As artificial intelligence holds immense power in shaping international relations, a new era of geopolitical strategy is set to unfold. In this episode of Navigating in Balance, host Benjamin Butler speaks with Dr. Kevin Modlin, a professor specializing in international affairs at Western Kentucky University, to explore how AI has the potential to transform the way we analyze global politics, forecast conflict, and interpret great power behavior.

From simulating political leaders’ decision-making to detecting deepfakes and countering cognitive bias in intelligence work, this conversation offers a compelling look into how language models and machine learning are being deployed in service of diplomacy and national strategy, highlighting the emerging role of AI in qualitative (not just quantitative) evaluation. The episode also dives into China's growing footprint in Latin America—particularly its economic investments—and how these moves fit into the broader U.S.-China-Russia power dynamic.

For defense analysts, policymakers, and anyone interested in the intersection of technology and international strategy, this episode delivers key insights into how AI can help decode the future of global influence.

00:00 – Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
02:50 – Qualitative AI Models in International Affairs
11:05 – Great Powers Competition: Current Landscape
22:22 – China’s Influence in Latin America
29:58 – Future Opportunities in AI and Analysis
45:10 – Reprogramming Diplomacy in the Great Powers Competition

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