Sïmon Saneback

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Diplomats and tech leaders in the same room usually makes for better conversations. Less abstract, more concrete. TDGI is back at @UNESCO in Paris on July 2 for this year’s Annual Forum. Also yes, my birthday. 😀 tdgi.org/tech-diplomacy… @TechDiploGlobal @AyumiMooreAoki

Icy roads, long days, sharp conversations. Davos has a way of clarifying what matters. 🏔️❄️ What stayed with me this year was not the volume of dialogue, but when it actually worked. When people paused, listened, and spoke plainly. That’s where #TechDiplomacy becomes reality.

A year has passed, yet the echoes of that night still travel like wind across forgotten stones. Shadows once feared gave way to quiet steps of hope taking form in the dust. A new hope whispered calmly: Silent years rise in awakening.

Just upgraded my Nest Hub Max from 2019 to Gemini for Home. Pretty wild to see Google breathe new life into a six year old smart display with a full AI upgrade. Powerful new features, richer interactions, and a device that suddenly feels brand new. Very cool move. 👏

Spending this morning with the Future Leader Program left me inspired. The next generation asks bold questions, thinks globally and cuts through the noise with real curiosity. Their energy is contagious. It is hard not to walk away feeling hopeful. 🌱

Back in Brussels for a policymakers dinner with @FriendsofEurope 🇪🇺 after #TEPS2025. Different backgrounds, same concern: Europe knows the WHAT but struggles with the HOW. Digital competitiveness now depends on moving from frameworks and pilots to execution at scale.

New poll shows Sweden’s Liberals at a historic low of 2.2%, a 90% drop over six decades since their prime as the People’s Party. With an unclear role in government and fading relevance, clearing the 4% threshold looks tough. Could this finally unblock Sweden’s frozen blocs? 🇸🇪

Just landed at Damascus Airport as it reopened to international flights. A small but meaningful sign of reconnection. After fourteen years of war and isolation, what stands out most is not what has been lost but what endures: the ingenuity and quiet strength of people who never stopped believing in a future worth rebuilding. Sustainable recovery begins with people, not just money or technology. Syria’s greatest asset is its human capital, and within its fragile infrastructure lies a rare second chance to rebuild smarter, strengthen local capacity, and renew confidence, capability, and hope. ✨

Visiting #School21 in Uzbekistan reminded me why innovation begins with learning. A tuition-free, peer-to-peer model where students learn by doing and by helping each other grow. Education shapes ecosystems. When we empower learners, we create capacity for change. ✨🇺🇿

A meaningful conversation this morning with @deodat_maharaj on how the @UNTechBank empowers the world’s least developed nations through innovation, capacity-building, and digital cooperation. 🌍💡 When purpose and progress align, tech and innovation become truly transformative.

Thanks @UN_Women, @BelenSanzLuq and @AyumiMooreAoki for an inspiring dialogue in Istanbul on the future of the care economy — where innovation, empathy, and technology meet to reimagine inclusion and opportunity. 🇹🇷🇸🇪🇺🇳 Hosted by @CGSweIST at the historic Swedish Palace. ✨

Over 170 countries still lack Tech Ambassadors — costing the world $2.8 trillion yearly in fragmented digital regulation. The Tech Diplomacy Institute (@TechDiploGlobal) is now setting a new path for global cooperation. Read the full story: tech-diplomacy.com/central-asia-p…

From the Silk Road to the digital road ahead — Samarkand once again connects East and West, history and innovation. Grateful to @AyumiMooreAoki, @TawfikJelassi, @UNESCO, and all partners shaping this shared vision for #TechDiplomacy and digital trust. ✨

We launched the Samarkand Declaration on #TechDiplomacy — a milestone uniting Central Asia’s leaders to ensure every nation can build diplomatic capacity in the digital age. 🇺🇳🇺🇿🇹🇯🇰🇿🇰🇬 A global movement born at UNESCO’s 43rd General Conference. 🌍🤝 #UNESCOgc

Just noticed a strange glitch in ChatGPT Voice Mode: it transcribed my talk as “This transcription was provided by Transcription Outsourcing LLC.” Never seen this before, and I’m not the only one. Could signal a third-party integration risk or training data leak. Needs audit. 👀

The boycott hall of fame keeps growing: Bud Light, Disney, Jaguar, Cracker Barrel… and now Netflix. Cultural wars have become a bipartisan sport, with brands caught in the crossfire. The big question is how long can investor sentiment hold? And what’s the long-term impact? 💭

Retail’s no longer just about speed. It’s about who defines the game. Amazon reset expectations. Temu & SHEIN pushed further. Together, they’re reshaping habits and squeezing regional players. 📍 See you at D-Congress 2026, March 4-5: events.svenskhandel.se/d-congress/

New report from @SvenskHandel says 1 in 5 Swedes shop on Temu or SHEIN every month. 🇸🇪 Local stores are suffering, but voters love it. With elections next year, politicians will probably dodge this hot potato. No one wants to campaign on “stop cheap stuff in your shopping cart.”

Five years ago, I warned in @TheLocalSweden that Amazon’s arrival could be Sweden’s retail Waterloo. The launch was clumsy. Now, Amazon is the most visited e-commerce site. I began as a skeptic. I now use Prime. Convenience won. Habit is the moat. thelocal.se/20250924/from-…

Just finished watching In Whose Name? A vivid and voyeuristic experience. I appreciated @nicostudiosinc’s choice to let Ye's moments speak for themselves, without filters, voiceover or interviews. Unlike jeen-yuhs, @inwhosename felt honest, raw, and at times brutal. Well done! 👏