AI rabbis? Some NY Hasidic groups see new technology as a challenge, others as a tool

Hasidic communities in New York are divided on the integration of artificial intelligence, with some viewing it as a challenge to religious values and others as a beneficial tool. Organizations like the Technology Awareness Group (TAG) are developing "kosher" filtering solutions to restrict AI access on devices, particularly for more insular groups like Satmar Hasidim, to prevent exposure to sensitive topics. Conversely, more technologically amenable groups, such as the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, are actively developing their own AI applications. For example, computer scientist Dr. Moshe Koppel, in collaboration with Chabad, created Rav Dicta, an AI program designed to answer Jewish law (halacha) questions using specialized religious texts. Despite its utility, Rav Dicta includes a warning that it is "not a substitute for a human rabbi," emphasizing the continued importance of human connection in religious guidance.