How are governments using custom AI assistants for diplomacy?
Diplomatic missions are deploying virtual avatars and custom chatbots to overhaul diaspora outreach and consular services.
Diplomatic missions are deploying tailored artificial intelligence avatars and interactive chatbots to handle consular enquiries, promote cultural heritage, and streamline outreach to overseas citizens. Driven by initiatives like India's M.A.N.A.V. vision for AI in governance, Indian embassies in cities including Jakarta, Munich, and New York have launched virtual representatives like Dewi and Sarathi. These tools translate complex administrative procedures and consular updates into interactive video and multilingual formats. By combining generative AI with localized cultural branding, governments aim to make public service delivery faster and more accessible for millions living abroad.
- 13 October 2026
- Embassy of India in Jakarta, October 2026
- 1,45,000 residents
- Indian Embassy in Jakarta, October 2026
- September 2026
- Consulate General of India in Munich, September 2026
- 2.5 million residents
- Consulate General of India in New York, October 2026
- 180+ envoys attended
- Ministry of External Affairs, April 2026
What's happening now
On 13 October 2026, the Indian Embassy in Jakarta launched 'Dewi', an artificial intelligence avatar designed to deliver updates on Indian culture, trade opportunities, scholarships, and consular services. Unveiled by India's Ambassador to Indonesia, Sandeep Chakravorty, the avatar draws its name from the Sanskrit word Devi, highlighting shared linguistic and civilisational heritage between India and Indonesia. The launch coincided with the festival season of Navaratri and Durga Puja, signaling a deliberate shift towards culturally tuned digital communication in foreign missions.
This deployment follows a mandate established during the 11th Heads of Mission Conference in April 2026, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed over 180 envoys on the theme of reforming Indian diplomacy for 2047. The conference highlighted that diplomatic missions were trailing in technology adoption for diaspora engagement, prompting an order to replace static text advisories with interactive media built around the framework of Tourism, Technology, and Trade.
Similar virtual avatars and automated systems are emerging across Indian foreign posts. In September 2026, the Consulate General of India in Munich introduced 'Sarathi', an AI avatar broadcasting video guides on Overseas Citizen of India applications, passport renewals, and birth registrations. Meanwhile, foreign posts in New York and Dubai continue to scale multilingual chatbots integrated with translation platforms like Bhashini and corporate tools from Zoho Corp to process high-volume queries from millions of overseas residents.
How custom AI avatars deliver diplomatic outreach
Data aggregation and script drafting
Embassy teams aggregate updated regulatory, consular, and cultural policy information into standardized scripts. These texts cover common queries such as passport renewals, visa rules, trade investments, and educational scholarships.
Visual avatar synthesis
Generative AI software synthesizes a realistic virtual human avatar, complete with natural facial expressions and synchronized lip movements. Designers tailor the avatar's appearance and naming to resonate with local cultural contexts, such as Jakarta's Dewi.
Multilingual audio generation
Voice synthesis models generate natural-sounding speech from the prepared text across target languages. Indian missions leverage the Bhashini AI platform to translate and vocalize messages in regional Indian languages and international dialects.
Digital channel distribution
Missions broadcast short video clips and interactive prompts across official social media channels, messaging platforms, and embassy portals. Overseas citizens consume the bite-sized audiovisual content directly on mobile devices without reading long text advisories.
Interactive query handling
Integrated backend chatbots process incoming viewer questions in real time. Automated systems filter routine administrative queries, directing complex diplomatic or legal matters to human consular staff.
Who it affects
The adoption of custom AI assistants directly impacts millions of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) navigating consular administration abroad. In Indonesia alone, the diplomatic mission serves an estimated 1,30,000 Persons of Indian Origin and 15,000 Non-Resident Indians as of October 2026, many working as chartered accountants, teachers, and engineers. The Consulate General in New York oversees consular services for approximately 2.5 million diaspora members across 10 American states as of October 2026.
Beyond the Indian diaspora, these tools serve foreign citizens, investors, and students seeking verified information on trade and travel. Following Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's bilateral visit to India during the BRICS Summit on 12-13 September 2026, tools like Dewi provide streamlined access to commercial opportunities and academic scholarships under India's 'Act East' policy.
| Mission | AI Assistant | Target Audience | Key Service Offered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jakarta Embassy | Dewi | 1,45,000 NRIs/PIOs & local public | Culture, trade & consular updates |
| Munich Consulate | Sarathi | Regional Indian diaspora in Germany | Visa, passport & OCI video guides |
| New York Consulate | Bharati | ~2.5 million residents in 10 US states | Subject-specific consular queries |
| Dubai Consulate General | PBSK Assistant | Overseas Indian workers in UAE | Labor assistance & general queries |
What's being done, and is it working
Institution
Embassy of India in Jakarta
Launched the Dewi AI avatar on 13 October 2026 to broadcast cultural, commercial, and consular updates to the Indonesian public and diaspora.
Institution
Consulate General of India in Munich
Introduced the Sarathi virtual avatar in September 2026 to deliver concise video guides on passport, visa, and OCI procedures.
Institution
Consulate General of India in New York
Deployed the 'Bharati' web chatbot to handle routine consular queries across ten northeastern US states serving 2.5 million residents.
Institution
Ministry of External Affairs (Bhashini Integration)
Integrated the Bhashini AI engine across foreign missions to enable automated voice and text translation across Indian and foreign languages.
What you can do
Check your local embassy or consulate's official social media channels to verify if automated AI avatars or chatbots are available for instant consular guidance.
Use interactive digital assistants for initial information gathering on routine matters like visa fees, document checklists, and passport renewal timelines.
Verify all administrative requirements against official government web portals before submitting physical visa or passport applications.
Provide direct user feedback on chatbot response accuracy to help diplomatic missions refine AI training datasets.
What we still don't know
- It is not yet clear how diplomatic missions will handle data privacy and secure personal documentation when integrating AI chatbots with consular databases.
- The extent to which AI avatars can accurately navigate complex legal and political queries without generating hallucinated or policy-defying responses remains unresolved.
Questions readers ask
What is AI avatar Dewi created by the Indian Embassy in Jakarta?
Dewi is an artificial intelligence virtual avatar launched on 13 October 2026 by the Embassy of India in Jakarta. It provides automated updates on Indian culture, scholarships, travel, commercial opportunities, and consular services for residents in Indonesia.
How do Indian diplomatic missions use AI to help overseas citizens?
Missions use virtual avatars like Sarathi in Munich and chatbots like Bharati in New York to explain passport, visa, and birth registration procedures. Integrated with the Bhashini translation engine, these tools deliver multi-lingual audio-visual guidance to overseas populations.
Why are AI avatars being introduced in diplomacy instead of text advisories?
Following directions from the 11th Heads of Mission Conference in April 2026, Indian envoys adopted audio-visual AI formats to make administrative guidance more engaging and accessible than long, static text documents.
