Algorithmic Diplomacy and the Politics of Feeding AI

March 3, 2026

Most AI debates focus on models. Far fewer examine the geopolitical stakes of the data that trains them. Can AI systems be considered as political actors? Is data control the new form of cultural imperialism?

In March, the Young Professionals in Foreign Policy – Global Branch and DCN Global co-hosted a webinar focused on how we can leverage diplomacy and politics when engaging with AI. In an era when artificial intelligence systems shape how information is produced, ranked, and circulated globally, the politics of data have become central to questions of power and sovereignty.

Aishwarya Selvan, YPFP Global’s Communications Director kicked off the session with an introduction of the panel. Throughout the discussion, experts Nikos Panagiotou, Professor at the School of Journalism and Mass Media Communications at Aristotle University, and Andrea Castagna, Public Affairs and Communications Officer at the Center for Future Generations emphasized that AI systems can serve as a major source for knowledge, which can shape how we understand the meaning of global political affairs. At the moment, political systems can be considered political actors–however, we still lack understanding of the greater implications where users may risk bias and misinformation.

Castagna expressed concerns about the control over data and underscored the importance of building inclusive infrastructures. Those who control the chips that make AI systems, most often are Western nations, tend to gatekeep products and systems which causes an imbalance in oversight.