The candid conversation between Lida residents representing different generations and walks of life, and Marat Markov lasted about two hours. The format of the meeting was a maximally open dialogue.
As the minister noted at the beginning of the meeting, 1.5 billion fake news items are released into the mediascape every day. «More often than not, we become consumers of this news. What’s more, we start discussing it, we start basing our actions and thoughts on it, we try to impose it on others, and we believe it to be true,» Marat Markov said. «Just a few years ago, when you were looking for information on the internet, you would get dozens or hundreds of blue links. You would click on them and get the information you needed. You could see who published that link, whose information it was, and based on your own experience, you would decide whether to trust it or not. But now, when you type in a query, you immediately get a ready-made answer. That answer is given to you.» He emphasized that, according to statistics, 69% of users do not verify the information provided to them by artificial intelligence in search engines.
The questions from Lida residents touched on information technology, music projects, and Belarusian cinema. Marat Markov was also asked about how he chooses the quests for his TV show and his personal interests and favorite news sources, among which, he noted, is the BelTA news agency.
Anastasia from Lida asked how the Culture Ministry plans to use information technology and artificial intelligence to promote historical memory and the arts. «Are you concerned that these technologies will eventually begin to replace real people?» she asked. The minister is convinced that humans will always be in demand, especially those who are professionally trained. «Yes, some types of work can already be performed solely with the help of artificial intelligence,» Marat Markov said. «Technology helps, but you still need to double-check what it produces. It cannot replace the human brain in any way today.» Nevertheless, he noted that in the future, AI will indeed replace a number of professions. Lida resident Anna inquired about infrastructure development and plans for the continued restoration of Golshany Castle and Krevo Castle. As Marat Markov noted, this is a complex issue. Belarus has over 5,600 historical and cultural heritage sites. «The sites you mentioned belong to the zero category or the highest category, which means we not only need to restore them but also put them to active use. The concept of a creative industry has become very fashionable now, where culture should not just consume but generate revenue. That is the reality today, and many are putting effort into this. But of course, the restoration of castles is an extremely costly endeavor,» Marat Markov said adding that there are many nuances in this process, since the reconstruction of any historical site must not deviate from technologies that require the use of the same materials as those used in the original construction.«The castles you mentioned, as well as some others that have been under restoration for years. These castles, like Novogrudok Castle, have received approximately $6–10 million in funding for restoration work over the past 10 years or so,» the minister noted. «Firstly, this is a long endeavor, and secondly, there is such a thing as ‘start-up phases’. The restoration process for any site, especially a historical and cultural one, implies a phased approach.» Marat Markov said he would prepare a more detailed response for Anna within a day and offered to call him.
