[Avodah] AI appliances and shabbat

[Micha Berger]

On Mon, Dec 29, 2025 at 08:36:02PM +0200, Eli Turkel via Avodah wrote:
...
> At CES, I expect to see a wave of new smart devices that step back from
> direct sensors and instead use tiny disruptions in Wi-Fi and similar
> frequencies to gauge activity around the home. They can sense human
> presence and movement patterns, but that's about it. The approach adds a
> bit more privacy while allowing lights, security systems and more to
> respond to human movement.
> 
> I've already seen this kind of presence sensing in the newest Philips Hue
> smart bulbs...
...
> what about shabbat?

Level 1: Can you go into a dark room knowing you will trigger a motion
sensor which will turn the light on? Pesiq reishei denicha lei.

Level 2: What if the causality is more complicated, such that you
don't know how long after your entry the light goes on?

Shabbos scooters by Tzomet and the like rely on the second case
being permissable for a choleh she'ein bo saqanah. Not for the
rest of us.

Why would an AI response to something you did not be another case of
this same category?

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger                     Time flies...
http://www.aishdas.org/asp               ... but you're the pilot.
Author: Widen Your Tent                          - R' Zelig Pliskin
- https://amzn.to/2JRxnDF