Propaganda Mechanisms: From Classical Theories to the Age of AGI

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of social engineering, tracing its path from the classical theories of Edward Bernays and Walter Lippmann to the challenges of the era of artificial intelligence (AGI). The text deconstructs information filtering mechanisms and Jacques Ellul's concept of sociological propaganda, pointing to the crucial role of perceptual architecture in shaping contemporary consciousness. The authors place particular emphasis on the practical aspects of crisis management, defining the process of rebuilding trust as a sequence of specific corrective actions, not merely image-building measures. In the era of narrative automation and synthetic influencers, understanding systemic filters and the ability to employ counter-clichés is becoming an essential tool for navigating a manipulated information reality.