\u201cTechnology won\u2019t wait for us. Geopolitics won\u2019t slow down,\u201d warned Ignazio Cassis, the incumbent OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Federal Councilor, at the opening of the conference on May 7, 2024, at the CERN Science Gateway. Under the title \u201cAnticipating technologies \u2013 for a safe and humane future,\u201d Switzerland, as the host, made it clear that anticipation\u2014that is, the proactive identification of developments\u2014must become the new core task of diplomacy.<\/p>\n
An ecosystem of innovation<\/p>\n
Geneva was not chosen as the venue by chance. The city is regarded as a global hub where science and multilateralism converge. The conference specifically drew on institutions such as CERN, which is regarded as a historic prime example of \u201cscience diplomacy,\u201d as well as the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA). The latter has set itself the goal of predicting scientific breakthroughs over the next 25 years to give policymakers time to act.<\/p>\n
Special attention was given to the Open Quantum Institute (OQI), an initiative designed to ensure that the immense computing power of future quantum computers is not reserved solely for military elites but is used to help solve global problems such as water and energy security.<\/p>\n
The Ambivalence of AI: Early Warning vs. Disinformation<\/p>\n
A central theme of the two-day event was artificial intelligence (AI). In her statement, British Technology Envoy Sarah Spencer emphasized the dual nature of these \u201cfrontier technologies\u201d: On the one hand, AI offers enormous opportunities for humanitarian aid and the early detection of crisis hotspots. On the other hand, it carries the risk of spreading disinformation at record speed and exacerbating existing instabilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe gap between what technology can do and how we manage it is widening,\u201d warned OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlio\u011flu. The OSCE must serve as a platform where even adversaries remain in dialogue to find common standards for the responsible use of AI.<\/p>\n
Science as a Bridge in Times of Crisis<\/p>\n
Despite the technological euphoria, political reality remained ever-present. The British delegation used the forum to strongly condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine and to emphasize that technological progress must be inextricably linked to respect for sovereignty and international law.<\/p>\n
The participation of Karen Lips, Deputy Director General of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), demonstrated that science can nonetheless serve as a bridge-builder. IIASA\u2019s involvement signals increased cooperation between scientific analysis and policy implementation within the OSCE region.<\/p>\n
People-Centered Governance<\/p>\n
The conference in Geneva was the second of a total of four international events held under Switzerland\u2019s 2024 OSCE Chairmanship. The goal remains ambitious: by the time of the Ministerial Council meeting in Lugano in December, a framework is to be established that ensures innovations serve people and strengthen mutual trust rather than creating new divides.<\/p>\n
As Ignazio Cassis put it: In a world of tensions, the OSCE offers a rare space where differences can be managed and common ground\u2014supported by forward-looking science\u2014can be rebuilt.<\/p>\n