JUNE 20 • 2024 | 33

members with hearing losses. 
“Our high school students 
at the academy are very 
interested in these issues of 
technology and religion, and 
several of our classes address 
topics that I address in the 
book, such as the kashrut of 
lab-grown meat and genetic 
engineering,” he said. “I’m 
planning on teaching a 
course for our high school 
students next year on the 
subject.
“I think everything in life 
is going to change a great 
deal because of everything 
in technology. The pace of 
change is accelerating, and 
so we are going to continue 
to face change that we didn’t 
anticipate. 
“For example, what is the 
significance of agency issues, 
decisions made by machines 
on behalf of people? Are 
we sort of offloading moral 
responsibility to machines, 
and if so, how does that 
change our understanding 
of what is distinctive about 
being a person?”

MAKING MORAL 
DECISIONS
The rabbi began programs 
about the book in Jerusalem, 
but he has not done a 
full book tour because of 
conflicts that can arise as he 
works full time for the school 
and accepts other religion-
related responsibilities.
He recalled giving a talk in 
Seattle and being approached 
by two software engineers 
with special concerns. For 
instance, they alluded to 
prisoners being considered 
for parole. If decisions 
were left to artificial 
intelligence, they questioned, 
supposedly objective 
considerations could result 

in determinations ultimately 
considered unfair in human 
terms.
“I learned from software 
engineers about their 
concerns relevant to the 
danger of relying on 
machines to make moral 
decisions,” he said.
The rabbi thought about 
accidents involved in the use 
of weaponry. If people are 
making the decisions and 
an accident occurs, there is 
accountability, but where is 
the accountability if machines 
are deciding?
And then there is the 
issue of saving lives during 
emergency triage when 
supplies are only available 
for one person and two 
people are in need. Does 
the care go to the younger 
individual with more years 
of life anticipated or does the 
care go to the older person 
with dependents, and how 
do machines enter into those 
decisions?

RECONNECTING WITH
ADAT SHALOM FRIENDS
Aside from book consid-
erations, Rabbi Nevins is 
looking forward to meetings 
with those associated with 
Adat Shalom as he travels 
for the program sponsored 
by SAJE (Seminars for Adult 
Jewish Enhancement) and 
co-sponsored by Detroit 
Jewish Book Fair, Henry and 
Delia Meyers Library and 
JLearn in partnership with 
Adat Shalom.
“I remember my 13 years 
at Adat Shalom fondly,” 
he said. “It’s a special 
community with a lot of 
kind, skilled and smart 
people. I look forward to 
seeing many old friends 
when I go back.” 
JEWISH NEWS

THE DETROIT

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Mazel Tov

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