Diplomatic Courier (DC) is committed to transparently communicating when and how AI is used in our original, expert-driven publications. Beginning September 15, 2026, all of our publications will display badges that clearly describe how AI has been used in each case, inspired by the Dubai Future Forum (DFF) project. The DC system is designed to bolster reader trust in the provenance and ingenuity of our publications.

There are three badges which communicate whether AI acts as a collaborator, an assistant, or is completely absent in the production of this content.

Human–AI Interaction

AI Usage

human driven

• Research: AI is used for secondary research, directed by the author. Trends may be identified and highlighted, but no conceptual guidance, no thesis, no mission statement can come from AI itself.
• Outline: AI may identify, abstract, and sort key points to inform content flow. No AI wording may be transferred to a draft. 
• Proofing: AI is used for copy edits. Authors use AI suggestions for reference only, and manually consider and make any changes. 
• Visual Media: AI may be used to generate visual media, closely directed, curated, and vetted by a human.
  

Human-AI collaboration

• Data: AI is used as a partner in primary research, gathering and/or interpreting  primary data.
• Drafting: AI is used as a writing partner, with an active role in articulating core concepts and arguments. Human oversight is required, ensuring analytical depth and the spark of human creativity flows throughout. May directly include AI–generated text.
• Editing: AI is used as a writing partner, but rather than in the draft stage, it is used to help strengthen human writing. May directly include AI–generated text.
• Conceptualizing: AI analyzes research to help inform overarching themes and concepts for the piece. 

For 20 years, Diplomatic Courier’s reputation for authentic, deeply thoughtful content has been its greatest asset. AI-use is authenticated throughout the editorial process, approved by DC leadership, and communicated here for full transparency.