[Avodah] AI

[Micha Berger]

On Wed, May 07, 2025 at 06:17:29AM +0300, Joel Rich via Avodah wrote:
> Rabbi Gil Student (aka The Big Boss Man) introduced an interesting issue in
> his peace on AI and the golem.
> https://www.torahmusings.com/2025/04/ai-golem-and-not-so-silly-questions/

There are two different conversations to be had...

"AI" as it exists today, which is really a Simulated Intelligence that
"only' produces outputs that look like the product of intelligence.

AI as described in Science Fiction, a conscious machine which has a model
of the world, a mental model of itself, first-hand experiences, etc...

RGS appears to be discussing the latter. I don't know if he is aware of
how big the gap is beteen chatGPT and an actual man-made intelligence.

Then there is a third possibility, intelligence without onsciousness.
For exmple, I have argued here and at more length on my blog that the
minds of animals don't contain a model of those minds, the way people
can be aware of our thoughts and think about them. That way lies bechirah
chofshi, since now you can think about your thinking and change what
you think.

To ask about machines or golems that have consciousness pose fundamental
hashkafic issues, as the human soul is a Tzelem Elokim. Can a person
make something like that?

As for Golems, it depends what a Golem is: A Simulated Intelligence?
A way of trapping an angel or demon into a clay body? An animal-level
intelligence, as implied by their inability to speak?

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger                 It's nice to be smart,
http://www.aishdas.org/asp   but it's smarter to be nice.
Author: Widen Your Tent                      - R' Lazer Brody
- https://amzn.to/2JRxnDF