On Digital Diplomacy, Empowering Citizens Globally, and AI
Executive chairman for Alphabet Inc., Eric Schmidt, on the future of technology, harnessing information, and what’s next for Google.
On this special edition of The E.R., David Rothkopf talks with Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Alphabet, Inc., who accepted this year’s Diplomat of the Year award on behalf of Google. The conversation at the awards dinner was centered on how the massive gains in connectivity are changing the landscape of diplomacy. Within just a few years, everyone on this planet may be connected to the internet; will this massive exchange of information rewrite the rulebook of sovereignty?
On this special edition of The E.R., David Rothkopf talks with Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Alphabet, Inc., who accepted this year’s Diplomat of the Year award on behalf of Google. The conversation at the awards dinner was centered on how the massive gains in connectivity are changing the landscape of diplomacy. Within just a few years, everyone on this planet may be connected to the internet; will this massive exchange of information rewrite the rulebook of sovereignty?
Rothkopf and Schmidt discuss the ins and outs of digital diplomacy on both a state-to-state and person-to-person level. How do we keep up in this age of information? What do we do about fake information? And where does artificial intelligence fit in with all of this? The strides that Google has made to embolden citizens globally are vast and encouraging, which is why FP chose the international organization as this year’s Diplomat of the Year.
Other awards of the night went to Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who accepted the Green Diplomat of the Year award on behalf of C40 Cities; and Hafsat Abiola, a Nigerian activist and founder of the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, who accepted this year’s Citizen Diplomat of the Year.
Eric Schmidt is the executive chairman of Alphabet, Inc. Follow him on Twitter at: @ericschmidt.
David Rothkopf is the CEO and editor of The FP Group. Follow him on Twitter at: @djrothkopf.
Listen and subscribe FP‘s podcasts, The E.R. and Global Thinkers, on iTunes.
More from Foreign Policy
China Is Selectively Bending History to Suit Its Territorial Ambitions
Beijing’s unwillingness to let go of certain claims suggests there’s more at stake than reversing past losses.
The United States Has Less Leverage Over Israel Than You Think
A close look at the foundations of U.S. influence—and the lack of it.
Khamenei’s Strategy to Dominate the Middle East Will Outlive Him
Iran’s aging supreme leader is ensuring that any successor will stay the course.
America Has a Resilience Problem
The chair of the Federal Trade Commission makes the case for competition in an increasingly consolidated world.