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| Skverer Rebbe, Rabbi Dovid Twersky (YWN) |
The latest such ban comes from the Chasidic Rabbis of Skvere. In the sternest of terms they have banned the use of artificial intelligence. (AI). From JTA:
In a declaration issued Thursday and stressing the danger of “the open internet without any filter,” more than a dozen rabbis from the Skver Hasidic movement prohibited the use of artificial intelligence, specifically citing the technology firm OpenAI…
The signatories of the Hebrew-language letter wrote that AI is “open to all abominations, heresy, and infidelity without limits.” It citied Biblical texts and rulings from previous rabbis as supports for the prohibition.
“It is possible that at this point, not everyone knows the magnitude and scope of the danger, but it has become clear to us in our souls that this thing will be a trap for all of us, young and old,” the letter said. “Therefore, the use of ‘AI’ is strictly prohibited in any shape and form, even by phone.”
It might sound a little odd – even contradictory for me to oppose this ban considering my support for banning certain books in public schools. But there are bans and then again there are bans.
Banning a book in schools that contains explicit sexual material that will certainly contradict the values parents want to instill in their children - or worse traumatize them for life - is not the same as banning technology for adults that has more positive value than it does negative value. There is no question that a book describing sexual matters in great detail is damaging to children too immature to handle it. Not so AI in the case of adults.
This ban is just an add on to previous bans on the internet and smart phones. All for the same reasons. But as in all of these cases, technology like AI used responsibly can be a boon to all of mankind. It ought not banned at all by anyone regardless of how noble their intentions are for banning it.
Obviously the legitimate concerns expressed by these rabbis should not be ignored. They should be expressed. It is entirely appropriate to warn people about the dangers inherent in technology. Those dangers are real and can cause great harm - sometimes permanent harm. In fact the possible dangers of AI are far more extensive than these rabbis even realize.
But banning it is not the way to do that. Because that is an invitation to try and break the ban for the very reasons the cited in Mishlei. These rabbis have every right – and even the responsibility to warn people about the very real dangers that exist. But a ban can easily become counterproductive.
On the other hand the lack of technology that is available to everyone else places them at great disadvantage in the market place for jobs. Adding to their already being disadvantaged through the lack of a secular education.
It is interesting to note that Chabad’s Chasidic rabbis do not agree with the approach of Skvere:
Other Orthodox groups, particularly the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement, have embraced technology.
Indeed. Chabad understands the value of technology and they use it for good. Mostly as a tool for outreach. Do the rabbis of Chabad not realize what the rabbis of Skvevre do? Don’t they understand the spiritual damage it can cause to their Chasidim? Or the possible damage to family relationships?
Of course they do. And I’m sure it happens. But I’m just as sure it happens to the Chasidim of Skvere, who will seek out those ‘sweet forbidden waters’ clandestinely.
At the end of the day, we are all responsible for our own actions. What Chabad realizes is that if we have been properly educated at home and in schools with the values of the Torah most of us will rise to the occasion and monitor ourselves. We will do whatever it takes to protect ourselves from those dangers. But we will use that technology for good.
What kind of good? Imagine the possibilities for human advancement. Imagine for example finding a cure for cancer - or any other disease - by way of the enhanced technology provided by AI. Banning such technology out of fear of the negative consequences will at best delay if not completely miss the opportunity to find those cures
The rabbis of Skvere and others that prefer bans to common sense apparently don’t think about that too much. Who knows how many lives might be lost by the delayed discovery of these cures banning AI would cause.
Is it far fetched to say such things about AI? I don’t think so. If anyone wants to know how far AI has advanced and its possibilities for the future, watch this:
