U.S. State Department

U.S. Foreign Policy

Main article: US Foreign Policy

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• Clinton Hillary - 2009 - 2013
• Colin Powell - 2001 - 2005

Subordinate organizations

• United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
• GSMSG (The Global Surgical Medical and Support Group)

History

2023

Chatbots and secret record analysis tools. How is the digitalization of the US State Department

The US State Department, as part of a comprehensive digitalization program, is introducing the latest artificial intelligence-based tools, including chatbots. This is stated in the materials released in early August 2023.

The administration of President Joe Biden, as noted, lays the foundation for the wider use of AI tools and services in the federal government. The State Department, in particular, intends to introduce such means to improve the efficiency of employees in analyzing large amounts of data. At the same time, chat bots based on neural networks will help in performing routine operations, for example, in compiling messages.

The US Department of State is implementing the latest AI-based tools as part of a comprehensive digitalization program

Another area of ​ ​ use of AI is the secret record analysis system. The declassification process involves manual verification of documents and an assessment of the possibility of disclosure of information. However, this is a very laborious procedure that requires the availability of qualified specialists. The use of artificial intelligence will make it possible to significantly reduce the burden on State Department employees, speed up the analysis of documents, and also reduce financial costs. However, the new declassification tool will not completely replace the manual process. The final decision in any case will be made by reviewers. In addition, employees of the department monitor the quality of AI work, which allows you to make changes to the training model to improve the accuracy of results. It is argued that decisions regarding secret documents made by the AI system in 97% of cases coincide with the opinion of specialists. At the same time, the actual load on workers is reduced by about 65%.

The strategy for implementing AI technologies provides for confidentiality, security, ethics and fairness. There are concerns that the widespread use of AI will lead to the formation of "algorithm control." The inclusion of artificial intelligence tools in workflows requires constant attention to the ethical aspects of automated decision-making. It is noted that innovation for the sake of innovation can lead to excessive investment in technologies that cannot justify themselves or lead to long-term cost savings.

Another area of ​ ​ use of AI is the system for analyzing secret records

At the same time, it is reported that the State Department is curtailing some initiatives related to neural networks. Thus, the department closes the AI project, the purpose of which was "to check the statistical relationship between activity on social networks abroad and the activities of militant extremist organizations." The reasons for this decision are not reported. Experts believe that the technology could be ineffective or did not comply with the principles of responsible AI.

Responsibility is paramount in AI applications. We audit and scrutinize our models to make sure we're doing everything right, "said Giorleny Altamirano Rayo, chief data officer at the U.S. State Department.

In general, as they say, the department seeks to apply artificial intelligence in increasingly sensitive areas. The strategy to use AI is closely linked to Secretary Anthony Blinken's broader program to modernize American diplomacy. The State Department emphasizes that AI is a modern tool that "works together with people to verify, oversee and improve processes." At the same time, the department does not plan to completely replace specialists using such technologies.^[1]

Hackers hacked into the mail of the American ambassador in Beijing and gained access to hundreds of thousands of letters from US officials

On July 20, 2023, it became known that hackers associated with the Chinese authorities hacked the email of the American ambassador to Beijing, Nicholas Burns. The attackers managed to gain access to thousands of letters from US officials. Read more here.

Create a "Critical and Advanced Technology" Department

On January 3, 2023 State , the department USA announced the formation of a new department that will deal with issues related to critical and advanced technologies. The structure is called Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology.

The office established Secretary of State Anthony John Blinken as part of a broader modernization program in light of the fact that "the totality of critical and newest world-changing technologies is now an integral part of U.S. foreign policy and diplomacy." It is noted that competition in this segment is constantly increasing. The new department will act as an expert center for the development and coordination of foreign policy in the relevant area.

US State Department opens office on "critical and advanced technologies"

We want to form standards governing new technologies so that they ensure quality, protect consumer health and safety, facilitate trade and respect people's rights. We intend to make sure that technology works for the benefit of democracy, fights disinformation, guarantees freedom, "Blinken Internet said.

The office will deal with the issues of attracting foreign partners to new technologies that "will change society, economy and security." We are talking about such areas as biotechnology, advanced computing, artificial intelligence and quantum information systems. The department will work closely with other structures of the US Department of State, whose work is somehow related to the latest technologies.

Dr. Seth Center has been appointed to the post of First Deputy Special Representative for Critical and Emerging Technologies. He will have to oversee the work of the office at the initial stage. Senter is said to have extensive experience at the intersection of national security and technology policy in government and beyond.^[2]

2022: Using AI for propaganda against Russia and China

On December 6, 2022, Ambassador Derek Hogan announced that the US State Department is actively using artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced IT solutions for propaganda against Russia and China.

In particular, we are talking about the use of AI tools to monitor social networks in order to identify "serious misinformation" emanating from other countries. In this case, according to Derek Hogan, the United States will be able to promptly publish refutations supported by its own arguments. This approach, it is argued, allows the American side to maintain the stability of its alliance in the current geopolitical situation.

US State Department uses artificial intelligence to propaganda against Russia and China

With the new tools, the State Department can take advantage of real-time data analysis and quickly coordinate with military and intelligence entities, it said.

According to researchers at Cornell University (USA), common large-scale language models for artificial intelligence can easily turn into an aggressive propaganda tool that varies under target audiences.

When the origin of a model is not fully credible, it is important to test it for hidden functionality such as targeted propaganda. Otherwise, all models derived from it may be poisoned, they said.

Hogan, who holds the post of First Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, said that the modernization of information infrastructure is one of the most important areas of diplomacy in the 21st century. At the same time, efforts to modernize the information technology sector are combined with broader political initiatives in the State Department.

As for China, the State Department has used multilateral diplomacy to build an alliance around the issue of setting technological standards for advanced tools such as AI, quantum computing, 5G telecommunications, etc. Those efforts have materialized, Hogan said, in the form of cooperation in areas such as "removing questionable suppliers from telecommunications infrastructure."^[3]

2021: The emergence of the position of data director

In early January 2021, it became known that the US Department of State appointed Matthew Graviss, Ph.D., a systems engineer with many years of experience in several senior positions in the Department of Homeland Security, to the position of the first permanent director for data. Read more here.

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