Jul 3, 2023 03:44 AM
(This post was last modified: Jul 3, 2023 03:48 AM by C C.)
posek: "In Jewish law, a posek (plural poskim) is a legal scholar who determines the application of halakha, the Jewish religious laws derived from the written and Oral Torah in cases of Jewish law where previous authorities are inconclusive, or in those situations where no clear halakhic precedent exists."
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Is an AI posek kosher?
https://www.torahmusings.com/2023/06/is-...ek-kosher/
INTRO: Everyone is talking about the implications of artificial intelligence (AI). While the current version of AI frequently gives laughably incorrect answers, it offers us a realistic idea of the possibility of a coherent technology that can think and reason independently.
For Jews, one question this raises is whether AI can answer halakhic questions. Much has been written and said on the subject, very little of it satisfying. Too many rabbis have not interacted with AI and do not seem to understand its implications. Others seem to be at a lack of relevant sources and precedents.
I will offer here a suggested answer based on a paper I presented at the 2010 Orthodox Forum (since published in the book, The Next Generation of Modern Orthodoxy).
Let us consider the possibility of an artificial intelligence that is trained on the entire corpus of rabbinic literature. The AI masters all of the primary texts and their commentaries.
From halakhic codes and responsa, it learns how to render decisions. It sees how poskim (halakhic decisors) reason, interpret texts, compare cases, consider the unique circumstances of the question, and arrive at answers. The AI is trained to think like a rabbi with perfect recall.
Can any individual Jew looking to fulfill God’s word ask an AI a halakhic question and follow its answer? And once AI is available to do this, would we be obligated to ask an AI rather than a human, with all his frailties?
One approach to take is to argue that a posek, a halakhic authority, requires divine assistance, siyata di-shmaya. God will help a rabbi reach the appropriate conclusion but will not assist an AI. Therefore, an AI lacks the necessary siyata di-shmaya that a rabbi has. But is this true? (MORE - details)
- - - - - - - -
Is an AI posek kosher?
https://www.torahmusings.com/2023/06/is-...ek-kosher/
INTRO: Everyone is talking about the implications of artificial intelligence (AI). While the current version of AI frequently gives laughably incorrect answers, it offers us a realistic idea of the possibility of a coherent technology that can think and reason independently.
For Jews, one question this raises is whether AI can answer halakhic questions. Much has been written and said on the subject, very little of it satisfying. Too many rabbis have not interacted with AI and do not seem to understand its implications. Others seem to be at a lack of relevant sources and precedents.
I will offer here a suggested answer based on a paper I presented at the 2010 Orthodox Forum (since published in the book, The Next Generation of Modern Orthodoxy).
Let us consider the possibility of an artificial intelligence that is trained on the entire corpus of rabbinic literature. The AI masters all of the primary texts and their commentaries.
From halakhic codes and responsa, it learns how to render decisions. It sees how poskim (halakhic decisors) reason, interpret texts, compare cases, consider the unique circumstances of the question, and arrive at answers. The AI is trained to think like a rabbi with perfect recall.
Can any individual Jew looking to fulfill God’s word ask an AI a halakhic question and follow its answer? And once AI is available to do this, would we be obligated to ask an AI rather than a human, with all his frailties?
One approach to take is to argue that a posek, a halakhic authority, requires divine assistance, siyata di-shmaya. God will help a rabbi reach the appropriate conclusion but will not assist an AI. Therefore, an AI lacks the necessary siyata di-shmaya that a rabbi has. But is this true? (MORE - details)