European diplomats used Starmer chatbot to predict PM's next moves
Officials linked to both the Spanish and Slovenian governments were among those interacting with a 'digital clone' of the Prime Minister in the final hours of wrangling over the agreement.
The AI models were used to test potential responses as the European Union sought to force through concessions on fishing rights and youth mobility, it is understood.
Sir Keir eventually signed away 12 years of guaranteed access to Britain's fishing waters and agreed to sign up to a scheme making it easier for Europeans to live, work and study in the UK as the price for his Brexit deal.
His critics branded the agreement a 'surrender' and an attempt to reverse Brexit by stealth.
Hundreds of questions were posed to a virtual model of Sir Keir designed and operated by Nostrada.ai, a British tech firm which also has digital versions of Parliament's 649 other MPs.
Its system generates answers using data harvested from previous public statements made by the Prime Minister and the other politicians.
'AI is fast becoming a vital tool in diplomacy. The ability to accurately predict how a government might act or respond is a huge bonus,' Leon Emirali, the company's founder, said.
The diplomats, from Spain's economy ministry and Slovenia's digital ministry, used a 'prediction function', which would indicate they were testing potential responses from Sir Keir as the negotiations reached a climax.
There were hundreds of messages shared back and forth between the bot and the diplomats, as if they were role-playing a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister or querying his position.
The model developed by Mr Emirali, once an adviser to former Brexit secretary Steve Barclay, was designed specifically to help diplomats and officials prepare for political showdowns.
Talks over Sir Keir's Brexit reset went down to the wire, with the agreement only signed off by EU member states hours before a summit between the Prime Minister and Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, respective presidents of the Commission and Council.
Wrangling went back and forth between the UK and European Commission delegations. But before any deal could be agreed, it would need the approval of EU member states, who were being kept updated in the wings.
During the talks, national capitals were able to influence the EU's red lines by tabling new demands.
It is understood that diplomats using the AI chatbot were testing how Sir Keir could respond to these fresh requests. However, it cannot be confirmed because the data is encrypted to protect its users.
Versions of the chatbot are being produced to help Europeans navigate Donald Trump's US administration, while it is also being considered to predict outcomes of meetings between despot leaders, such as Russia's Vladimir Putin or North Korea's Kim Jong-un.
Similar technologies could be used to predict future military actions taken by the likes of Moscow, or its allies in Iran and China.
The Telegraph used the same AI model as the European diplomats to ask the Sir Keir chatbot questions on everything from Brexit to winter fuel cuts.
When asked how far he could be pushed to give up British fishing rights in EU waters, the Prime Minister's 'digital clone' insisted that it's unlikely he'd give up more than he already has.
And after having to concede to the EU in parts of his Brexit deal, Sir Keir's AI twin said he wouldn't yield to any more of their demands nor join the single market again.
The chatbot also said that the families of people using the youth mobility scheme would not be allowed to come to the EU under the Brexit reset, insisting there would be no return to freedom of movement.
The Telegraph also asked the Prime Minister's virtual clone about his Rwanda migrant plan, trans women and the winter fuel cuts.
The chatbot said he wouldn't reopen the Tories' plan to deport migrants to Rwanda – saying that there is a 0 per cent chance it would happen.
Starmer had been a staunch critic of the Rwanda migrant plan – but last week he'd begin talks with other countries to host 'return hubs' for failed asylum seekers.
And when asked if trans women are women, the Starmer chatbot pointed to the Supreme Court's historic ruling last month stating that the term 'woman' refers to biological sex in the Equality Act.
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