The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has ushered in an era of digital diplomacy with the launch of an artificial intelligence figure, Victoria Shi
This pioneering step represents the first instance globally of utilizing a virtual persona to communicate an institution’s missions and announcements.
Fusing Technological Innovation with International Relations
Donning a sleek, dark suit, the virtual envoy Victoria made her debut in a digital broadcast, describing herself as a “digital individual,” complete with natural gestures and head movements, shared on various online platforms. While the AI itself won’t be crafting any content, the design is such that it serves as the visual medium to deliver text crafted and validated by human officials.
Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, celebrated this progress as an unprecedented technological jump within the diplomatic sphere, highlighting how it aims to streamline the workflow and optimize the workload of diplomatic staff. Rosalie Nombre—a prominent Ukrainian singer and a figure on television who passionately uses her voice on issues of race and linguistics—gifted her likeness to aid the project at no expense, earning her considerable influence on social media.
The creative force behind Victoria, referred to as The Game Changers, has a reputation for their virtual reality productions that delve into Ukraine’s contemporary conflict. The AI spokeswoman’s moniker, a combination of “victory” and the Ukrainian phrase for artificial intelligence ‘shtuchniy intelekt,’ echoes with symbolic meaning.
In an effort to avert any wrongful impersonation, Victoria Shi’s public dispatches are to be accompanied by QR codes that direct viewers to a written version of her statements on the Ministry’s formal web portal. A focus of her communication will include updates on Ukraine’s consular services, a pertinent issue in light of the recent blackout of these services to draft-age males abroad, necessitating their return to Ukraine for administrative matters and potential conscription.
A clear line is drawn by the Ministry between the real-life inspirer, Rosalie Nombre, and the AI character, Victoria Shi, the latter being the conduit for authorized communiqués only. With this step, Ukraine is charting a new path in the landscape of global diplomacy, setting a benchmark for innovation in the realm of international affairs.
The introduction of the AI-generated spokeswoman and the activities of the Ukraine foreign ministry mark significant focal points in this development, potentially serving as buzzwords for enhancing the online discoverability and engagement about Ukraine’s novel diplomatic channel.
