Seventeen ultra-Orthodox rabbis in New York have signed and published a proclamation against the use of artificial intelligence, and specifically the products of OpenAI.
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Most of the rabbis belong to the Hasidic Skver community. They wrote in the statement that artificial intelligence "enables abomination, heresy and treachery without limits."
The pashkevil (poster) written in Yiddish quotes texts from the Bible and previous rabbinic rulings in support of the prohibition.
"It may be that not everyone at this stage knows the magnitude of the danger and its scope, but it will become clear to us in our hearts that this thing will be a trap for all of us, young and old; therefore, the use of 'AI' is completely forbidden in any way, even on the phone," the statement said.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews in New York use a "kosher phone" to surf the internet, which blocks access to many sites such as those dedicated to pornography and gambling. However, like the rest of the world, the insular community also has discovered the benefits of using ChatGPT, an OpenAI-generated Torah talk software that is seen as a potential threat to the Haredi community in the United States.
Rabbis expressed concern that artificial intelligence could replace the traditional process of questions and answers on halachic topics that takes place between individuals and their rabbis, and warned of the "risks" posed by its potential ability to reshape society.
Here's what ChatGPT had to say about the matter:
"As a language model powered by artificial intelligence, I am not capable of replacing a rabbi or any other human in any role. Rabbis are spiritual leaders in the Jewish community, trained in Jewish law, tradition and customs, and provide guidance and support to their communities. While I can provide information on various topics, I cannot offer the same level of personal relationship and spiritual guidance that a rabbi can provide. It is always important to seek advice and guidance from qualified individuals within the community in which a person lives."
Nevertheless, they issued a pashkevil against you.
"As an artificial intelligence language model, I am unable to take actions against a public message against me, or anything else. I exist solely as a tool to provide information and assistance to users, and I have no ability to make decisions or take actions that would cause controversy within a community or specific group. The prohibition stems from concerns about the negative impact of technology on the way of life of the Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox) community. It is important to note that every community has the right to determine its own guidelines and rules, and this is a decision made by the individuals within the community if they choose to act according to these guidelines."