Specifics of Using Artificial Intelligence Technologies within the U.S. Department of State

Abstract

This study analyzes the process of systematically integrating artificial intelligence technologies and big data analysis tools into the operations of the U.S. Department of State in the context of the global digitalization of international relations. The study aims to conduct a comprehensive examination of the institutional transformations within the U.S. foreign policy agency, to assess the regulatory framework governing algorithmic decisions, and to investigate the impact of cutting-edge technologies on the effectiveness of public diplomacy and countering foreign information operations. The methodological foundation of the study is a systemic approach, which allowed for the examination of the digitalization of diplomacy as a holistic process of public administration reform. The study employs a structural-functional approach to analyze the transformation of the department’s divisions, content analysis of the “Strategy for the Use of Data and Artificial Intelligence” (2025) to identify planning priorities, as well as case study methods for a detailed examination of the StateChat, Northstar, and ARRE systems. The research findings indicate that the State Department has embarked on a large-scale restructuring that encompasses all levels of diplomatic activity: from the automation of routine document flow to complex real-time strategic forecasting. It has been established that the use of large language models has significantly optimized the processing of unstructured information, freeing up human resources to perform tasks requiring emotional intelligence and direct communication. It has been found that the key elements of the system’s security are the “zero-trust” architecture and the concept of “meaningful human oversight,” which are designed to minimize the risks of algorithmic bias and errors. Particular attention was paid to the transformation of strategies to counter disinformation, which manifested itself in the transition from centralized structures to decentralized international coalition cooperation. The study’s findings confirm that the transition to “Digital Diplomacy 2.0” has become the United States’ existential response to the epistemological crisis of our time and the “weaponization” of the information space. Artificial intelligence is recognized as a critical national security tool that enables not only the detection of threats but also the exercise of personalized influence on foreign audiences. However, the digitization of the diplomatic apparatus raises new ethical and legal challenges, including algorithmic interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states and the need to balance technological efficiency with democratic accountability.