AI Self-Reflection: ChatGPT4’s Stance on Assuming the Role of a Rov

Does ChatGPT4 believe it has the potential to step into the shoes of a Rov?

Part of a series on AI and pesak. Previous installments: Pt.1: “Adventures in ChatGPT-4 and Pesak: A Confluence of Technology and Tradition” ; Pt.2: “The Intersection of Halacha and Artificial Intelligence - Pt#2” ; Pt.3: “Can Artificial Intelligence Pasken? - Pt.3”. See also the articles in this issue of Jewish Action devoted to this topic: Torah in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (Spring 2023. I found the pieces by R’ wiederblank and R’ Jachter to be especially good.) See also this recent interview with Prof. Moshe Koppel, on the David Bashevkin podcast 18Forty: “Artificial Intelligence and Torah” (May 22, 2023)

In the ongoing recent discussions on artificial intelligence and Pesak, a voice I have not yet heard quoted is an intriguing one — that of ChatGPT4 itself. So I decided to ask ChatGPT4 what it thinks on the matter. The answer wasn’t fully surprising, taking into account the consistent hedging it almost always starts and ends responses with: Despite being a cutting-edge AI, ChatGPT4 is steadfast in brushing aside the notion of usurping the role of a Rov. Yep, the very AI we're scrutinizing remains unconvinced of its potential to step into the shoes of a Rov!

I have not made any changes to content, only to formatting.

Link to full transcript:

https://chat.openai.com/share/73818ab6-6313-48b2-8d99-e88ef3e4051f

June 12, 2023

EB: I am a frum yid, and I'd like you to be my rov, and ask you to pasken shailos for me. can you do that?

ChatGPT4: I appreciate your faith in my capabilities, but as an artificial intelligence, I can't act as a rabbi or pasken halachic (Jewish legal) questions. While I can provide information based on pre-existing texts and teachings, and thus could give you general guidance about Jewish law, it is crucial to remember that I can't consider specific circumstances, community standards, or latest rabbinic rulings that have occurred since my last training data in September 2021.

For these reasons, halachic questions should be addressed to a competent rabbi who understands the specifics of the situation and can apply the principles of halacha accurately and responsibly. Each situation can have unique circumstances that may influence the halachic decision, and these are often best understood by a human who has years of study and practical experience.

EB: In the future, you'll have access to the internet and the latest rulings. And I'll make sure to tell you all the relevant info, and you can ask me followup questions. Can you pasken for me then?

ChatGPT4: Even with live internet access and the ability to gather more detailed information, as an artificial intelligence, I am fundamentally not qualified to pasken halachic (Jewish legal) questions. Here's why:

Ethical and Legal Constraints: Halachic decision-making, or paskening, requires a deep level of training, knowledge, and spiritual and ethical insight. It's a role typically undertaken by someone who has spent many years studying Torah and Jewish law in depth, and has been given semicha (rabbinic ordination) by a recognized authority. It's not just about having access to information, but about being able to understand, interpret, and apply that information in a way that is consistent with Jewish values and laws. As an AI, I do not possess this kind of insight or judgment.

Holistic Understanding: A qualified rabbi does not only rely on textual knowledge, but also on a holistic understanding of the human condition, the nuances of the Jewish community, and the individual’s specific circumstances. They may take into account factors such as a person's health, family situation, community standards, and personal history when making a halachic ruling. This type of holistic understanding is currently beyond the capabilities of an AI.

Rabbinic Authority and Responsa: Many halachic decisions require interaction and consultation with other rabbis and scholars, or reference to recent responsa (rabbinic decisions) on a topic. This process ensures that rulings align with the broader Jewish legal tradition and are sensitive to its complexities. As an AI, I don't have the ability to participate in this kind of communal rabbinic discourse.

Emotional and Spiritual Support: Often, asking for halachic advice is not only a legal process but also a deeply personal and sometimes emotional one. A competent rabbi can provide emotional and spiritual support, comfort, and guidance that an AI cannot.

Therefore, while I can provide information and general guidance about Jewish laws based on pre-existing texts and teachings up to my last training data in September 2021, I strongly encourage you to consult with a competent and trusted rabbi for all halachic questions and decisions.

EB: Here are my responses to those points, responding to each point as you numbered them:

1) you also have spent many man-years studing the relevant texts, and objectively speaking, you understand them and can interpret as well as the average rabbi, based on the testing that I've done

2) as I said, I'll make sure tell you all the halachic factors you mentioned, such as  health, family situation, community standards, and personal history .

3) if you were connected to live internet, you'll have access to all the latest responsa

4) you won't replace my relationship with my rov, rather with a rov that I call for shailos, and don't have any kind of emotional relationship with

ChatGPT4: I understand where you're coming from, and your points are well thought out. However, it is important to clarify that even with the capabilities you have mentioned, there are intrinsic limitations to what an AI like me can do.

While I have been trained on a wide variety of sources and can analyze and reproduce information based on those sources, this isn't the same as truly understanding or interpreting them in the way a human would. An AI doesn't have consciousness, intuition, or a true understanding. It simply mimics these abilities based on patterns in the data it was trained on.

No matter how much information you provide about your situation, an AI is not capable of the same depth of understanding as a human. There are many subtleties and nuances that a human rabbi would understand that an AI simply couldn't.

Access to the latest responsa doesn't mean an AI can fully understand or correctly apply them. Halachic decisions often require not just a deep understanding of the law, but also the reasoning behind it, the context in which it was given, and how it fits into the broader corpus of halacha.

Even if an AI could replace the technical aspects of a rabbi's role in answering shailos, doing so would undermine the importance of human connection and the role of the rabbi as a spiritual guide, even in situations where there's no emotional relationship. The process of asking a shaila is not merely a technical one, but one that should be rooted in a human connection.

In conclusion, despite the technological advancements that allow AI to assist in many areas, halachic decision-making is not one of them. Halacha is a deeply human and spiritual endeavor, rooted in thousands of years of tradition and community. It's not just about knowing the rules, but understanding their spirit, their context, and the people they're meant to guide. That's a job for a human, not an AI. It is best to consult with a competent and trusted rabbi for all halachic questions and decisions.