Hello,
Yashar koach for the important and vital questions, which is already present nowadays, and will most likely accompany us for many years, even getting more pronounced.
Naturally, we have no halachic tradition in regards to these issues, for they were nowhere close to artificial intelligence in the past. We are thus obligated to assess the matters in light of principles of halacha in other domains and try to build the halacha brick by brick. The more the different authorities agree regarding these issues – the more reasonable to assume that a halachic position will form.
Fundamentally, halacha does not remove responsibility from man. Quite the opposite, it views man as responsible for his actions – “man is considered as with intent to harm (muad) at all times”, and requires us to avoid harming others – “do not place blood in your house” (Devarim 22:8). Therefore, a person is not permitted to entirely give over his decision-making to AI systems, despite the shortcuts it creates, and despite the fact that it is itself based on prior decisions of humans.
Oftentimes we have written that the approach to AI systems must be similar to the approach of a student and a chavruta (study partner), in other words: it brings up wonderful ideas, overarching information, thought challenges, and results of the systems it learns. Not only this, but it has a neural network that is unparalleled, which increases in its power. Therefore one can, and even might be obligated, to take advantage of it in order to promote more fruitful and precise dialogue for medical dilemmas. It can present the possibilities and implications in a clear and effective fashion.
However, it is prohibited for man to let artificial intelligence turn into an authority and accept it as the decision maker in complex medical issues. All the more so when dealing with systems of which one cannot understand the factors they consider, as they are learning models. A watchful human eye must be involved in the final decision. Only after much time and experience that demonstrates the accuracy of the system’s decisions can one transfer more and more authority to it, however even then – only if it is possible to follow the process that led to a certain decision, constantly reassessing its abilities.
This originates first and foremost from the responsibility placed upon the medical team. Granted this has additional significance, such as protecting patient dignity, etc.
All the best,
Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, Head of the Tzohar Ethics Center
