And the clergy have spoken about AI--

So, it seems I'm a little fixated on this text-generating function of AI, but there it was, a main topic on Science Friday (heard it on npr). The host was talking to various guests about this upsurge of AI and the hullaballoo about text-generation. Some felt it would be useful to create generic texts like emails (o yay--let's celebrate generic text for just a moment). Others had their real doubts, due to the fact that it just can't be trusted to produce verifiable data/facts. Then, Ira asked the Rabbi what he thought. A listener called in with a very good question: what did clergy think about AI-generated sermons?

The Rabbi was really interesting to listen to. He asked the chatbot to respond to an inquiry, wanting to know what the Torah would say about the Russian-Ukrainian war. The chatbot brought back the history of the Torah and geographical/current information about Russia and Ukraine, but came to the final point that the Torah would say nothing, as it was written in the Bronze Age before either country existed. 

The Vatican, too, has already established guidelines for AI, as far back as February of 2020-- human rights and human dignity must not be compromised by any use of artificial intelligence (for example, facial recognition software). Even more recently, the Vatican has joined with both Jewish and Muslim leaders in what is called the Abrahamic commitment to the Rome Call for AI Ethics. 

So. AI cannot respond to moral questions and cannot make the leaps and associations that are necessary for this sort of inquiry. As the Rabbi said, his job is secure. 

I think we can extend that to poets, musicians, novelists, philosophers, and so on. AI is a means by which existing information is curated, and must be fact-checked for accuracy. Anything that needs to respond to the human condition needs humans. 

Have a good day,

C