Episode 18: David Wolpe: Does AI Change the Way We Are Human?
What happens when we use AI to explore our own identity? Can ChatGPT help you interpret your dreams? This week in the Responsible AI podcast from The AI Forum, Alex Alben explores the profound implications of artificial intelligence on human identity and ethics with Rabbi David Wolpe.
As AI continues to evolve, it challenges our understanding of existence and the very fabric of human life. Rabbi Wolpe, a renowned scholar and spiritual leader, brings a unique perspective to these discussions, drawing parallels between AI and ancient Jewish legends. "The Golem was a legendary creation," he explains, "something that both threatens you, but also, does unbelievable service to you that nothing normal could do."
Rabbi Wolpe also addresses the ethical dilemmas posed by AI, particularly in the context of life extension and the preservation of human knowledge. He questions the pursuit of immortality, suggesting that "dying is part of life, and it's part of making way for other people and other creations to come along." How do we find the balance between technological advancement and the natural cycle of life?
Rabbi Wolpe emphasizes the importance of introspection and community in navigating the complexities of modern technology. He notes, "We're losing the value and priority of the internal life because so much of our lives are lived on display."
Topics
01:24 Exploring the Golem: AI in Jewish Legend
05:20 The Existential Threat of AI
08:21 AI in Personal and Spiritual Contexts
12:09 The Tower of Babel: Competing AI Models
20:08 The Paradox of Life Extension
23:28 The Phenomenon of Recording Ourselves
27:42 Discovering Identity in a Digital Age
30:28 The Role of Prayer in Introspection
33:27 Kabbalah, Mysticism, and Chatbots
39:00 Learning from Stories and Human Experience
About Rabbi David Wolpe: David Wolpe is the Max Webb Emeritus Rabbi of Sinai Temple and a Scholar in Residence at the Maimonides Fund. Author of eight books, including the national bestseller Making Loss Matter, Creating Meaning in Difficult Times, Wolpe has been named the most influential Rabbi in America by Newsweek, among the 50 most influential Jews in the world by the Jerusalem Post and twice named among the 50 most influential Angelenos by LA Magazine.
Rabbi Wolpe has taught at Harvard, UCLA, Hunter college and the Jewish Theological Seminary. He has written for The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, The Atlantic, and The Jerusalem Post, among many other newspapers and journals. His resignation from the antisemitism advisory committee at Harvard gained international attention.
Wolpe’s most recent book, David: The Divided Heart, a biography of King David, was a finalist for the National Jewish Book award and optioned for a movie by Warner Brothers.
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