As family members of Canadian diplomats, you navigate a complex world, and understanding the Foreign Service Directives (FSDs) is crucial. These directives can be dense and difficult to interpret quickly.
Imagine having a personal assistant who could instantly find the information you need within the FSDs. This is now possible with the help of powerful Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT from Open AI, Google Gemini, or Claude from Anthropic.
This post will guide you through using these tools to create your own “FSD assistant.” This assistant can quickly search and summarize relevant sections of the FSDs, saving you valuable time and effort.
Important Disclaimer: This method is for informational purposes only. While AI tools are powerful, they are not infallible. All outputs generated by these tools MUST be verified with the FSDs directly or by consulting with relevant authorities. This process is meant to facilitate your understanding, not replace official channels.
What are ChatGPT and Gemini?
ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude are large language models, a type of AI that can understand and generate human-like text. Think of them as highly advanced language processing engines that can also summarize and explain information.
How to create your FSD Assistant:
The process is surprisingly simple and requires no technical expertise. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Accessing the AI Platform: ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude are accessible through user-friendly websites or apps. You can simply search for “ChatGPT”, “Gemini”, or “Claude” on your web browser to find them.
- Uploading the FSD Document: Once you’re on the platform, you’ll need to provide the AI with the FSD document. Look for an option to “upload a file” or “upload a document.” Select the Foreign Service Directives April 1st, 2025.txt file available here.
(This is a TXT copy of the FSD publicly available on the National Joint Council website here)
This allows the AI to access and understand the content of the FSDs.
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As of April 2025, the free versions of Google Gemini and ChatGPT allows you to upload a TXT, to do this on most other AI services, you need a paid subscription. - Giving Custom Instructions: This is where you create your “FSD assistant.” You need to give the AI clear instructions on how to help you. This is done by typing a specific prompt.
- Important: Replace “(Your question goes here)” with your specific question about the FSDs.
Example:
Let’s say you want to know about relocation expenses. You would type the following:
“You help Canadian diplomats and their spouses to understand the FSDs. Try to find the relevant section from this source.
Give answers based only on the source document.
Provide an overview of the relevant policy section. Be specific about each subsection and add relevant quotes from the source document.
Create a step by step guide to gather the needed information for a claim when it applies.
Conclude with a summarized overview of the answer and a cheat sheet including pre- authorisation requirements.”
Question: What are the eligible expenses for relocation when posted abroad?”
The AI will then analyze the uploaded FSD document and provide an answer based on the information it finds within the document. It will even attempt to provide you with the specific section of the FSD where the information is located.
Tips for Effective Use:
- Be Specific: The more specific your question, the better the answer. Instead of asking “What are the rules for housing?”, ask “What are the rules for housing allowances for diplomats posted to high-cost cities?”
- Use Keywords: Include relevant keywords from the FSDs in your questions to help the AI find the right information.
- Remember the Disclaimer: Always verify the AI’s output with the official FSD document or by consulting with the appropriate authorities.
- Try modifying the prompt to make it suit your needs! Play with it and try different queries!
Benefits:
- Quick Access to Information: Get answers to your FSD questions in seconds.
- Simplified Understanding: The AI can summarize complex information in plain language.
- 24/7 Availability: Access your FSD assistant anytime, anywhere.
Privacy Concerns:
It is crucial to be aware of privacy implications when using AI platforms. These platforms often use the data they process for training and improvement purposes. Therefore, never share any specific personal information, such as names, addresses, contact details, or other sensitive data, when using these tools. Keep your questions focused on general FSD inquiries and avoid including any information that could identify individuals. By adhering to these guidelines, you can utilize the benefits of AI while protecting your privacy.
By following these simple steps, you can leverage the power of AI to navigate the FSDs more efficiently and confidently. Remember, this is a tool to assist you, and verification with official sources remains crucial.
Check out an example of a question here: https://chatgpt.com/share/675eb4a4-87ec-800f-bbed-23957025cca6
This post was written by Patrick Pilon, a “Canadian spouse” living abroad with 3 children since 2017 and proud member & volunteer of the CDFN!
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