Social consciousness as a subject of modern scientific research

The article presents a description of the prevailing interpretation of such a concept as public consciousness in modern studies. The authors show the main stages of its formation, current directions of its research. The paper considers the most important principles and provisions for identifying the relationship between public consciousness and the main trends of social development, such as total introduction of digital technologies in all spheres of life, the active expansion of the boundaries of the use of artificial intelligence in making vital decisions.