ChatGPT Sermon: Rabbi uses AI to deliver message to congregation
Rabbi Josh Franklin of the Jewish Center of the Hamptons recently made history by delivering a sermon at a Shabbat service that was entirely written by an AI, specifically ChatGPT. This groundbreaking event took place during the discussion of the weekly Torah portion Vayiggash.
At the beginning of his sermon, Rabbi Franklin candidly admitted to his congregation that the message they were about to hear was not his own creation, setting the stage for an unexpected revelation at the end.
After delivering the AI-written sermon, Rabbi Franklin humorously recounted the various speculations from the worshippers regarding the authorship, ranging from local rabbis to his own father and the esteemed late Lord Rabbi Sacks. The surprise came when he disclosed that the sermon was crafted by artificial intelligence.
Reflecting on the experience, Rabbi Franklin expressed both amazement and apprehension, jokingly mentioning his concerns about losing his position to AI. Despite the advancements in technology, he reassured the congregation that the role of a rabbi transcends mere delivery of information and requires a deeper spiritual connection that AI currently lacks.
Regarding ChatGPT, Rabbi Franklin highlighted its potential for intelligence but questioned its ability to truly empathize or engage spiritually with a community. He emphasized that being a rabbi is not just about disseminating information but about meeting the spiritual needs of the congregation, a task that AI is not equipped to fulfill at present.
In the discourse inspired by the Torah portion Vayiggash from the Book of Genesis, the sermon touched upon the narrative of Jacob's journey to Egypt with his sons during a time of famine in Canaan, drawing parallels to contemporary spiritual dilemmas.
As technology continues to evolve, Rabbi Franklin's innovative use of AI serves as a thought-provoking exploration of the intersection between tradition and modernity, challenging existing notions of spiritual leadership in the age of artificial intelligence.
Reference: Parashah Vayiggash
