Issue № 80. June 2020

Malicious Use of Artificial Intelligence in North-East Asia and Threats of International Psychological Security

Evgeny N. Pashentsev — DSc (History), Professor, Leading Researcher, Diplomatic Academy of the MFA of Russia; Professor, Lomonosov Moscow State University; Director of the International Center for Socio-Political Studies and Consulting. Moscow, Russian Federation.
E-mail: icspsc@mail.ru
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5487-4457

Phan Cao Nhat Anh — PhD, Director of Center for Japanese Studies, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences. Hanoi, Vietnam.

E-mail: pcnanh@hotmail.com
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2869-7618

Dam Van Nhich — PhD, Lecturer, Faculty of Computer Science, National Research University “Higher School of Economics”, Moscow, Russian Federation.
E-mail: mrnhich@mail.ru
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-2682-1459

This article examines current and future threats to international psychological security caused by the malicious use of artificial intelligence (AI) in North-East Asia (NEA). There was no regional security system in this region that would encompass and satisfy all countries in the region. Structures that focus on the interests of the United States and its allies are preserved. Negative psychological influences associated with various factors of international development are increasingly affecting the system of interstate relations in NFA. Recently, the pace of AI technology development in the region has increased dramatically, especially in China, Japan, and South Korea. The current research shows that AI raises threats to international psychological security (IPS) to a new level. At the same time, the use of AI to destabilize international relations through targeted high-tech psychological influence on the minds of citizens is an obvious and great danger. In the context of the main conflicts between the NEA countries, some existing and prospective methods of malicious use of AI that pose a threat to the IPS are identified. In order to avoid possible threats from malicious use of AI not only states, but also interested private and non-profit organizations should effectively interact. The risk of malicious use of AI is significantly increased due to the complex use of these technologies by asocial actors. However, we should not forget that the threat of AI is primarily anthropogenic (at least at the current stage of AI development). Therefore, in order to avoid many threats, society itself needs to increase its knowledge of AI, while simultaneously recognizing and accepting collective responsibility for the common future.

Keywords

Artificial intelligence, international psychological security, North-East Asia, malicious use of artificial intelligence, political conflicts.

DOI: 10.24411/2070-1381-2020-10069