Socio-cultural risks of multimodal large generative models of "artificial intelligence" (GenAI)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the conditions for ensuring the information security of Russian citizens when using generative "artificial intelligence" technologies in the socio-cultural sphere. The relevance of the topic is due to the modern high rates of development of computer neural networks that generate multimedia content: texts, images, sounds and videos. The developers classify generative technologies as "artificial intelligence", position them as a "new nuclear project" capable of radically increasing the productivity of socio-cultural creativity, and receive significant government, corporate and investment financing. The object of the study is modern multimedia generative models, the subject of the study is the possibility of their use in the socio-cultural sphere of creativity and the associated risks of information security. The purpose of the study is to determine the conditions for ensuring the information security of Russian citizens when using multimodal generative technologies in the socio-cultural sphere.  The research materials are scientific publications of recent years (2021–2024) in Russian journals of the HAC list (categories K1, K2) and international Scopus publications (quartiles Q1, Q2) devoted to research and critical analysis of the possibilities of multimodal generative models, associated risks and security tools. The philosophical methodology is applied: theoretical and cultural analysis, synthesis. The scientific novelty of the article is due to the application of a philosophical theoretical and cultural methodology for a critical comparison of the declarations of developers and the actual potential of applications of multimodal generative technologies. The result of the study is an assessment of how greatly exaggerated the risks predicted based on the positioning of the technologies in question as "artificial intelligence". The real risks are proposed to include: the incompatibility of development costs with the usefulness of the results; lowering the cultural level of professional and amateur creativity and worsening the tastes of the mass audience; use in "social engineering", fraud, mass disinformation, fake news, manipulation of public consciousness, "cancellation culture", destruction of traditional values and substitution of socio-cultural identity. The means of ensuring the safety of Russian citizens in the development and use of multimedia generative technologies in the socio-cultural sphere are recommended.