What is the halachic status of a bus/train/car that operates autonomously, with no driver?
Is it שומר שכר או שומר חינם or perhaps it has an unprecedented status?
What about liability and responsibility for its operation and/or malfunction? Thanks.
A. As we have often, mentioned regarding similar Shailos, the machinery you cite and other similar AI operating systems for many tasks and undertakings in our times, are not considered to be autonomous or independent creatures. Since they are after all, the result of man made programs and original endeavors for their creation, and their operation is as needed for human benefit.
They are not at least in our days, just in function for other machines or non-human independent endeavors and benefits. Therefore, whoever set them up is responsible for even their autonomous operation and results, since those humans after all placed them in their service and for their own need or benefit
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Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit’a
Important Numbers
