Artificial Intelligence Through the Lens of Halacha

AI Programs and Robots on Shabbos

Question

I am involved in the development of AI systems, and it seems to me that in the very near future, there will be major breakthroughs in this field. For example, on the horizon are robots that can be instructed to do work before Shabbos and then, on Shabbos, to do all 39 melachos. These robots can cook, clean, write, sew, and perform whatever melacha one desires. My question is: Will it be permitted to instruct these robots before Shabbos to do melacha on Shabbos? Can instructing these robots be compared to instructing a non-Jew to do melacha, which is forbidden before Shabbos as well?

My second question is that, currently, one can set up AI before Shabbos to design computer programs, websites, and many other programs over Shabbos. Is this permitted?

Thank you.

C. F.

Rav Zafrani 

In order to answer your questions, we need some background information on the issur of amirah l’akum. The Torah (Shemos 12:16) states, “Melacha should not be done,” and the Mechilta (Bo, 9) learns from this verse that, in addition to a Jew being personally forbidden to do melacha, he cannot instruct a non-Jew to do melacha. Some learn that this is mide’Oraisa (Yerei’im 304, Levush 243), but most explain that this issur is miderabbonon (Ramban, Shemos ibid.; Shaar Hatziyun 243:7).

Most poskim explain that the reason for this issur is that, l’chumra, we consider the non-Jew to be a shliach of the Jew (Rashi, Graz). As such, the above-stated issur of “melacha should not be done” can only apply to a non-Jew who is a person and not to a computer.

Although we have shown that the issur of getting someone to do melacha cannot apply to a robot, there is another issue that should apply to your question. There is a separate issue of zilzul Shabbos, disgracing the honor of Shabbos. Although the Shulchan Aruch does not cite this issue, we find a number of poskim who rule that it applies (see Rama, Orach Chaim 244:6, 252:5; Magein Avrohom 301:27; Birkei Yosef 301:3; Shulchan Aruch 522:1). It seems to me that the cases you described are included in this.

As far as a robot cooking for a Jew on Shabbos, that is more stringent. Chazal prohibited putting food onto a fire on Shabbos even if the food is fully cooked because of the issur of shehiyah (Shulchan Aruch 253:1). According to the Chazon Ish, it is even prohibited to leave food on a hot plate and have a timer activate the electricity on Shabbos. Asking a robot before Shabbos to cook your food would be included in this issur.

A.I. Authoring Seforim

Question

I have been giving shiurim for many years and they are posted online. Someone approached me and said that they would like to take some of the shiurim and, using A.I., turn them into a sefer. The AI changes the wording around and adapts them into book form. I was excited about this idea until someone I mentioned it to advised me not to do this, since only a human writer can infuse kedusha into the words. What does the rov think of this?

Rav Zafrani

AI is extremely dangerous, and if a person starts using it for advice or p’sak halacha, it can cause a great churban. However, at the same time, it has the potential to do great things, such as the ability you mentioned to transcribe and edit spoken material. If it is used carefully for the right reasons, then it is fine to go ahead with your project.