Just-in-time reporting from the UN Security Council: Leveraging AI for diplomatic insight

On 21 and 24 October, DiploFoundation provided just-in time reporting from the UN Security Council sessions on scientific development and on women, peace, and security. Supported by Switzerland, this initiative aims to enhance the work of the UN Security Council and the broader UN system.

At the core of this effort is DiploAI, an advanced platform shaped by years of training on UN materials, which played a crucial role in unlocking the knowledge generated by the Security Council’s deliberations. This knowledge, often trapped in video recordings and transcripts, is now more accessible, providing valuable insights for diplomacy and global peace.

Unlocking the power of AI for peace and security

AI-supported reporting from the UN Security Council (UNSC) demonstrates the potential of combining cutting-edge technology with deep expertise in peace and security. This effort is part of ongoing work by DiploAI, which has been providing detailed reports on Security Council sessions in 2023-2024 and has covered the UN General Assembly (UNGA) for eight consecutive years. DiploAI is actively contributing to expanding the UN’s knowledge ecosystem.

Seamless interplay between experts and AI

The success of this initiative lies in the seamless interplay between DiploAI and security experts well-versed in UNSC procedures. The collaboration began with tailoring the AI system to the unique needs of the Council, using input from experts and diplomats to build a relevant knowledge base. Experts supplied key documents and session materials, which enhanced the AI’s contextual understanding. Feedback loops on keywords, topics, and focus areas ensured the AI’s output remained both accurate and diplomatically relevant.

A pivotal moment in this collaboration was the analysis of New Agenda for Peace , where Security Council experts helped DiploAI identify over 400 critical topics, laying the foundation for a comprehensive taxonomy on peace and security at the UN. This expertise, combined with DiploAI’s technical capabilities, has resulted in an AI system attuned to the subtleties of diplomatic language and priorities. Furthermore, the project introduced a Knowledge Graph—a visual tool for displaying sentiment and relational analysis between statements and topics—which adds new depth to the analysis of Council sessions.

Building on this foundation, DiploAI developed a custom chatbot capable of moving beyond standard Q&A interactions. By integrating data from all 2024 sessions and associated documents, the chatbot allows users to interact conversationally with the content, providing in-depth answers and real-time insights. This evolution marks a significant leap forward in accessing and understanding diplomatic data—shifting from static reports to interactive exploration of session materials.

AI and diplomatic sensitivities

The development of DiploAI’s Q&A module, refined through approximately ten iterations with feedback from UNSC experts, underscores the value of human-AI(-nism) collaboration. This module addresses essential diplomatic questions, with iterative refinements ensuring that responses meet the Council’s standards for accuracy and relevance. The result is an AI system capable of addressing critical inquiries while respecting the sensitivity required in diplomatic settings.

What’s new?

DiploAI’s suite of tools—including real-time meeting transcription and analysis—has transformed reporting and transparency at the UNSC. By integrating customized AI systems like retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and knowledge graphs, DiploAI adds context, depth, and relevance to the extracted information. Trained on a vast corpus of diplomatic knowledge generated at Diplo over the last two decades, the AI system generates context-specific responses, providing comprehensive answers to questions about transcribed sessions.

Such an approach has enabled DiploAI to go beyond the simple transcription of panels’ dialogues, allowing diplomats and the public to access detailed transcripts, insightful reports, and an AI-powered chatbot, where they can obtain answers to questions related to the UNSC deliberations.

Key numbers from UN Security Council reports

Here are some numbers from 10 UNSC meetings that took place between January 2023 and October 2024: 

In conclusion…

DiploAI’s reporting from the Security Council, supported by Switzerland, shows how AI can enhance diplomacy while staying grounded in human expertise and practical needs. This blend of technical capability and domain-specific knowledge demonstrates how AI, when developed collaboratively, can contribute to more inclusive, informed, and impactful diplomacy.