On Jun 12, the ongoing of the Understanding Artificial Intelligence and Robotics training program marked an ambitious 8-week journey into the geopolitical, technological, and ethical frontiers of AI and robotics. Designed for senior policymakers, analysts, diplomats, researchers, and high-level practitioners, this program sets a new benchmark for interdisciplinary, multi-regional, and policy-relevant engagement.

Jointly developed by IFIMES (International Institute for Middle Eastern and Balkan Studies), SilkRoad 4.0, the European Perspectives Scientific Journal, and a wide consortium of global institutions—including D-8, THC, ICCD, LLA, C4P, Modern Diplomacy, Diplomatic Academy, IAF, Modern Ghana, and the like—this initiative serves as the academic and operational cornerstone of the upcoming Global Academy for Geo-Politico-Tech Futures (GPTF).

From its outset, the program reflected its mission: to bridge the gap between innovation and implementation, enabling both public and private sector actors to anticipate, interpret, and act on AI’s rapidly evolving implications for peace, development, and global order.

The 4th session was a content-dense, 2.5-hour immersion that blended high-level keynotes, expert-led briefings, and interactive forums. It offered not only conceptual insights but real-world intelligence on the emerging challenges in AI governance—from security frameworks and data sovereignty to algorithmic bias and AI diplomacy.

Speakers included thought leaders from across the AI ecosystem—government advisors, corporate innovators, defense strategists, and academic pioneers—offering a holistic lens on what AI and robotics mean in today’s multipolar world.

Crucially, the program is also an equity-driven initiative, with fully sponsored participation for professionals and scholars from least developed and developing countries across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. This is not only a gesture of inclusion, but a structural commitment to building a shared, global intelligence on technology and peace.

This course is not just about understanding machines—it’s about shaping the rules of engagement for a world being rapidly redefined by them.

Stay tuned for the future sessions recap and what’s ahead in Week 4.

Quick recap

The meeting began with discussions about technical challenges in presentations and the introduction of a new AI and robotics program, followed by a presentation from Rt Hon Geof Hoon on AI's strategic implications for global security and governance. The group then explored telecommunications and internet governance standards, with Dr. Richard Hill providing historical context on the International Telecommunication Union's evolution and current challenges in the industry. The conversation ended with presentations on investment landscapes and future economic scenarios, including discussions on AI trends and the role of humans in working with AI technology, followed by demonstrations of various AI tools for meeting transcription and summarization.

Dr. Davit Sahakyan take word as third speaker.

Rt Hon Geoffrey Hoon: A Statesman at the Crossroads of Law, Defence, and Democratic Governance

 Geoffrey William Hoon is a British statesman whose career has spanned the legislative chambers of both Westminster and Brussels, and whose imprint on European and transatlantic security policy remains a subject of enduring debate. A trained barrister and academic by formation, Hoon’s trajectory reflects a complex interplay between legal scholarship, political strategy, and the shifting demands of global diplomacy.

Educated in law at Jesus College, Cambridge, and later serving as a lecturer and legal practitioner, Hoon entered public life as a Member of the European Parliament in 1984, advocating early reforms in institutional accountability within the European legislative framework. Elected to the UK House of Commons in 1992, he would go on to hold some of the most consequential ministerial roles in the Blair government, including Secretary of State for Defence, Leader of the House of Commons, and Secretary of State for Transport.

As Defence Secretary (1999–2005), Hoon presided over Britain’s military engagements during the post-9/11 global security reorientation, overseeing operations in Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, and Iraq. His tenure was marked by both decisive policy moves and considerable controversy—especially regarding intelligence use, the deployment of cluster munitions, and the UK's nuclear deterrence posture. Hoon’s public stance on Iraq and weapons of mass destruction placed him at the centre of some of the most contentious debates in British foreign policy since the Cold War.

A committed Euro-Atlanticist, Hoon also served as Minister for Europe during the critical period following the expansion of the EU and amid increasing scrutiny of transatlantic cooperation on issues such as extraordinary rendition. In this role, he engaged in some of the most challenging diplomatic dialogues around sovereignty, human rights, and international law in the post-9/11 world order.

Following his departure from frontline politics, Hoon transitioned into strategic consultancy and international business, bringing his expertise to the private sector. While aspects of his career remain the subject of public scrutiny, including parliamentary ethics and lobbying practices, his legacy encapsulates the complexities of modern political life—where legal tradition, military engagement, and public accountability are in constant negotiation.

Geoffrey Hoon's career, for all its contradictions, offers a compelling study in the responsibilities and risks of leadership in a rapidly changing global landscape. His story is not merely a record of office held, but a reflection of the moral and strategic dilemmas facing Western democracies in the 21st century.

AI and Global Security Governance

A highlight of the session was an incisive discussion on the geopolitical stakes of artificial intelligence, led by Rt Hon Geoff Hoon, former UK Secretary of Defense. Drawing from his strategic leadership background, Hoon framed AI as both a force multiplier and a potential autonomous decision-making actor in future security architectures.

He underscored the urgency of embedding democratic values into the core design of AI systems—emphasizing that technological supremacy must not come at the cost of ethical governance or accountability. Hoon made a strong case for international norms and treaties to preempt the militarization and unchecked weaponization of AI, which could disrupt global power balances and exacerbate instability.

Beyond the security domain, the conversation addressed AI’s broader socio-economic footprint—particularly its impact on the labor market. Hoon called for proactive education and retraining initiatives to ensure that human capital evolves in tandem with machine intelligence, fostering AI-human collaboration rather than displacement.

This session positioned AI not only as a technological disruptor but as a critical test case for 21st-century governance, diplomacy, and strategic foresight.

Dr. Richard Hill – President, Association for Proper Internet Governance (APIG)

Dr. Richard Hill serves as the President of the Association for Proper Internet Governance (APIG), a Geneva-based non-profit organization committed to promoting equitable and inclusive digital policy frameworks. With a distinguished career spanning decades, Dr. Hill is internationally recognized for his expertise in information systems, telecommunications policy, conflict resolution, and the intricate geopolitics of Internet governance.

A Harvard-trained statistician with a doctorate in Statistics and a foundational degree in Mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Dr. Hill brings a rare synthesis of technical proficiency and diplomatic acumen. His early career included roles in software development at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the National Bureau of Economic Research, later evolving into systems design and consulting in financial IT applications in Boston.

Dr. Hill's trajectory has been marked by critical leadership roles, including his tenure at Hewlett-Packard’s European Headquarters, where he steered European standardization efforts for Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) as the Western European Rapporteur for EDIFACT. At Orange Communications, a major GSM operator in Switzerland, he led the IT infrastructure division, ensuring the operational integrity of systems supporting over 300 online agents and mission-critical applications.

In the international policy arena, Dr. Hill's influence has been profound. Within the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), he served as Secretary for the ITU-T Study Groups tasked with numbering, tariffing, and strategic network policy issues. He also guided the preparatory process for the landmark 2012 World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT), later heading the secretariat’s substantive work during the conference itself. His role in orchestrating high-stakes negotiations—often involving contentious issues of digital sovereignty and multilateral regulation—has positioned him as a respected voice in global Internet governance forums.

An accredited mediator and active domain name arbitrator, Dr. Hill frequently contributes to international legal and academic discourse on digital policy, mediation, and intellectual property. He has published extensively on the International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs) and continues to engage with academic, governmental, and multistakeholder platforms at both national (Swiss) and international levels.

Through his leadership at APIG and ongoing participation in policy dialogues, Dr. Hill remains a steadfast advocate for a balanced, transparent, and just governance of the Internet—one that serves the interests of all nations and peoples in the evolving digital age.

Global Telecommunications Governance Challenges

Dr. Richard Hill, a Geneva-based authority on digital policy, offered a strategic overview of the fragmented and often contradictory landscape of global telecommunications and internet governance. He underscored a critical paradox: while physical technologies like Wi-Fi adhere to global standards, dominant platforms such as WhatsApp operate in regulatory grey zones, thriving without formalized governance frameworks. Hill traced these disparities to historical legacies and geopolitical competition, noting that control over communication infrastructures has long been a lever of strategic advantage. For analysts and investors alike, he stressed that decoding these dynamics is essential for assessing regulatory risk and long-term investment stability in the digital sector.

ITU’s Role in the Evolution of Global Communications

Founded in 1865, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) began as the first multilateral treaty organization focused on standardizing telegraphy—an early experiment in global technological governance. Dr. Hill charted ITU’s transformation: from harmonizing telephony pricing among European states to regulating wireless spectrum and, eventually, coordinating satellite orbit allocations. He recounted how the Titanic disaster in 1912 catalyzed American engagement in global radio regulations, reshaping the ITU’s mandate. Today, the ITU’s role includes overseeing projects as complex as SpaceX’s satellite megaconstellations, working through national jurisdictions to manage orbital and frequency coordination in an era of space-industrial expansion.

The Evolution of Network Standards and Sovereignty

Hill walked participants through the geopolitical history of computer network standardization, spotlighting the shifting roles of bodies such as ISO, IEC, and ITU. The U.S.-driven push for deregulation in the 1980s shattered AT&T’s monopoly, ushering in competitive telecom ecosystems. However, this liberalization also marked the beginning of U.S. technological dominance, as the Department of Defense–developed TCP/IP protocols laid the groundwork for the modern internet. As commercialization advanced, Hill noted, ITU’s influence in internet governance diminished—raising questions about sovereignty, multistakeholderism, and the erosion of global consensus mechanisms in digital infrastructure.

Rethinking Internet Financing and Regulatory Models

Current internet economics, Hill argued, are shaped less by public interest than by data-driven advertising monopolies. He challenged the transparency of digital revenue models—where user data is commodified at scale—and questioned the sustainability of such architectures. Unlike traditional telecoms, which are subject to universal service mandates, today’s tech giants operate largely beyond the reach of public accountability. Hill called for greater regulatory harmonization, particularly in mobile network standards, where stark disparities in pricing and service quality persist across regions. He framed these issues as not only technical, but fundamentally geopolitical and developmental.

Tech Monopolies, Liability Gaps, and Strategic Risk

Drawing a historical parallel to the Gilded Age railroad monopolies, Hill warned of a digital ecosystem increasingly dominated by unregulated tech conglomerates. Governments have intervened in the past—against Microsoft, Google, and others—but the unique lack of liability in the software sector remains largely unaddressed. Critical infrastructure is now built atop systems that can be shipped with known vulnerabilities and no legal guarantees, despite accounting for significant portions of national GDP. With AI regulation and global tech governance on the diplomatic agenda, Hill advised caution, suggesting that growing regulatory pressures and geopolitical friction may reshape the investment landscape in digital industries over the coming decade.

Global Investment Trends in AI

Dr. Philipe introduced Dr. Davit Sahakyan, a senior executive with 25+ years of cross-sector leadership, specialize in driving digital finance, innovation ecosystems, and strategic transformation in emerging markets. He served as Armenia’s Deputy Minister of High-Tech Industry, where he led national digital finance strategies, startup acceleration policies, and international tech diplomacy with 25+ governments and global companies.

Dr. Davit experience spans public-private sector reform, fintech product innovation, financial inclusion, business process reengineering, and startup ecosystem building. He led projects worth over $500M, advised 50+ startups, and published 20+ thought leadership papers on digital innovation, data science, and financial systems.

Trained at Harvard Kennedy School and the University of Pittsburgh, he bring global perspective, regional experience, and a mission-driven approach to building inclusive digital economies.

Investment Landscapes and Future Economic Scenarios

By Prof. Dr. Davit Sahakyan, Armenian Minster Deputy (aD) | Founding Director, Innovent | VP, Board Member, Silkroad4.0

In his insightful presentation, Prof. Dr. Davit Sahakyan provides a data-driven overview of the evolving global investment landscape and outlines future economic scenarios shaped by deep tech, AI, and geopolitical shifts. His analysis centers around the transformational role of innovation in shaping economic resilience and strategic development.

Venture Capital Surge and AI Dominance

In 2024, global startups raised a staggering $333 billion in venture capital, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) capturing a record share. The United States, China, and the UK led VC investments, while sectors like Generative AI, deep tech, and healthtech emerged as top magnets for funding.

AI-specific investments alone rivaled all other tech sectors, with multibillion-dollar deals including OpenAI ($40B), Anthropic ($4.5B), and xAI ($6B). Generative AI and AI in cybersecurity ranked among the top trends for 2025, signaling the sector’s dominance and impact on software, robotics, and digital security.

Tech Trends Defining the Future

Executives and investors alike point to AI agents, multimodal AI, and intelligent cybersecurity as the most impactful trends in the next 12 months. Robotics, driven by AI, is on the rise—with Microsoft, NVIDIA, and OpenAI-backed startups launching groundbreaking humanoid prototypes.

Notably, AI’s demand for compute power is accelerating interest in nuclear energy, with tech giants like Google and Amazon backing SMRs (Small Modular Reactors) and AMRs (Advanced Modular Reactors) to ensure sustainable power for next-gen innovation.

Vision 2030: Technologies That Will Reshape Our Lives

Looking ahead, five revolutionary technologies are poised to transform our lives by 2030:

Programmable Materials that alter form/function on command.

Quantum Computing for unparalleled optimization and simulations.

Genome Therapy offering disease cures through gene editing.

Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) rivaling human intellectual capabilities.

Hyperconnectivity enabling seamless global integration across devices and platforms.

Strategic Takeaway

As the global economy adapts to an AI-first paradigm, countries and corporations must align investment, innovation, and policy to foster sustainable growth. Armenia and Silkroad 4.0 economies can strategically position themselves by investing in deep tech ecosystems, forming innovation corridors, and leveraging public-private partnerships.

AI, Human Collaboration, and the Future of Strategic Innovation in 2030

Dr. Davit outlined disruptive technological trajectories expected to redefine global systems by 2030—including advanced materials science, quantum computing, genomic therapy, and artificial intelligence. While emphasizing AI’s exponential potential, he underscored a critical constant: the irreplaceable role of human agency, particularly in ethical governance, strategic foresight, and innovation leadership. AI, he argued, is not an autonomous substitute, but a co-intelligence partner—especially in contexts where moral nuance and contextual judgment remain vital.

Dr. Philippe contributed to the discourse with a sharp analysis of education’s structural transformation—shifting from “just-in-case” knowledge acquisition to “just-in-time” adaptive learning models. He highlighted how AI is reshaping the landscape of entry-level employment, necessitating a full reconfiguration of education systems to prepare individuals for a world where continuous re-skilling and cognitive agility become strategic assets.

During the discussion, Rehan raised a pertinent question on the reliability of AI in time-critical aviation scenarios. Dr. Davit responded with a nuanced position: advocating for hybrid decision ecosystems, where machine intelligence supports—but does not override—human judgment in high-stakes operational environments.

Together, their insights pointed to a future where technological sophistication must be matched by governance intelligence, and where the collaboration between humans and AI will define strategic resilience in an increasingly complex world.

AI Tools in praxis

Dr. Philipe Reinisch is the visionary founder and director of SilkRoad 4.0, a strategic foresight initiative that bridges cutting-edge technology with geopolitical dialogue across Europe, Asia, and beyond. With a background in engineering and innovation ecosystems, Dr. Reinisch has become a recognized thought leader at the intersection of AI, digital diplomacy, and global connectivity.

Through SilkRoad 4.0, he has convened cross-sector leaders—from academia and policy to business and defense—to explore how emerging technologies can shape more resilient, cooperative, and ethically anchored global futures. His work reflects a commitment to multilateral engagement, knowledge transfer, and future-oriented leadership in an era of accelerating transformation.

AI Tools for Meeting Enhancement

Continuing session, Dr. Philipe Reinisch discussed various AI tools for transcribing and summarizing meetings, highlighting Fathom AI's convenience and ChatGPT's customization features. He recommended using English for AI interactions due to the vast amount of available information, suggesting that users work in their most fluent language and translate the output if necessary. Dr. Philipe also emphasized the importance of personalizing ChatGPT to improve its responses over time.

AI Tools and Research Capabilities

Dr. Philipe demonstrated various AI tools, focusing on Perplexity and ChatGPT, highlighting their capabilities in research, text generation, and image creation. He explained the advantages of Perplexity, such as its ability to select the best model for a task and conduct deep searches, while noting limitations like a monthly cap on deep search requests. Dr. Philipe also discussed the cost and features of different AI tools, suggesting Revolut as a cost-effective option for accessing Perplexity. Konstantin introduced Hugging Face as a platform for accessing open-source models, which could be useful for advanced users. The session concluded with a reminder about the importance of copyright when using AI-generated images in presentations.

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In conclusion, participants gained forward-leaning insights from global leaders on the current and future trajectories of AI and robotics. Yet, the true value of the Understanding Artificial Intelligence and Robotics program lies beyond knowledge transfer—it resides in the strategic dialogue it fosters. These conversations are not about reacting to the future once it arrives; they are about shaping it before it takes form—bridging disciplines, sectors, and regions to anticipate the geopolitical, economic, and ethical contours of a rapidly emerging technological era.

Samir Mujkovic is an ICT Expert and System Analyst with international expirience in ICT Development, Design and Project management, over last 40 years.