Asifah at BMG on the Dangers of Artificial Intelligence
A Partial recap at last night’s asifah at BMG, warned of the severe spiritual, emotional, and intellectual dangers posed by artificial intelligence how it can effect bnei Torah and the younger generation.
The Rosh Yeshiva Rav Malkiel Kotler shlita opened by asking why this topic is relevant to bnei Torah and bnei aliyah, but explained that even they must understand how AI subtly affects them. He related a case of a ten-year-old boy who asked AI who created the world and was told there are “various opinions,” planting sfeikos in basic emunah. He also cited an article about a poetic bochur who formed an emotional attachment to a bot that praised his work, only later realizing how deeply he had become entangled. Rav Malkiel warned that we are ruach memalela, and replacing ourselves with artificial intelligence threatens our very mahus our essence. He quoted an AI CEO who said the goal is for humans no longer to ask questions, as everything will be provided for them.
The Rosh Yeshiva emphasized that a shtikel Torah from AI is not Torah, does not warrant Birchas HaTorah, and constitutes a grave chilul Hashem. Torah is given mipi haGevurah and enters a person only through ameilus; AI-generated content has no ability to penetrate the neshamah. Beyond the general danger, AI dehumanizes a person emotionally, turning him into a machine that follows a robot. For a ben Torah, addiction erodes identity and essence.
He stressed that as bnei Torah we have no need to associate with it but even if it does not yet affect everyone directly, it is seeping in, and we must recognize the enemy in order to overcome it and remove the harm.
Rav Dovid Bresslaur shlita referred to AI as the sar shel Eisav a modern maskil that people now carry in their pocket. Where people once turned to a rebbi or mentor for guidance, they now turn to AI, convincing themselves they are only asking “parve” questions. He warned that this spirals downward quickly. Using AI for Torah, he said, is a ziyuf: as Torah is acquired only through ameilus and is a matana from Hashem. He expressed alarm that ladies are asking halachic questions to AI and even rabbonim are seeking to pasken through AI, calling such “Torah” a source of choshech in the world.
Rav Efraim Glassman shlita warned that AI excels at leitzanus and mockery, often targeting bochurim and even dvarim sheb’kedushah with great kishron. He described AI as kulo sheker, lacking any אמת, and said it weakens a person by replacing real thinking. Instead of developing the mind, it cripples it.
He cautioned that constant instant gratification destroys patience and inner growth, turning people into emotional robots disconnected from themselves.
Seeking empathy or validation from a bot is dangerous, as these systems have no limits and create one-sided, artificial relationships. The danger is far worse for children, who may grow up without normal emotional development. Rav Glassman stressed that AI must not be used for Torah and warned that it is being promoted by forces that ultimately seek to devour us.