The latest report published by The New York Times breaks down the debate about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by Israel on the battlefield.
In the aftermath of Hamas’s deadly October 7 attacks, Israel turned to a powerful new ally: artificial intelligence. The country’s military has integrated numerous advanced AI tools into its operations in Gaza and modern warfare techniques. However, these advancements raise serious questions.
Israel Integrates AI Into Modern Warfare
One of the most high-profile cases was the assassination of Ibrahim Biari, a senior Hamas commander. Israeli officials, who were unable to locate him using traditional intelligence, used an AI-based audio tool to trace his calls.
Later on, the subsequent airstrike on October 31, 2023, killed Biari but also claimed the lives of over 125 civilians, according to Airwars.
This was not an isolated incident. In interviews with American and Israeli defense officials, it was revealed that Israel has been testing an array of AI tools in real-time battle conditions.
These include facial recognition to identify partially obscured faces, large language models to analyze Arabic dialects, and drone systems that can lock onto and track targets autonomously.
Much of this innovation came from “The Studio,” a secretive tech hub inside the country’s cyber intelligence unit, where army engineers worked alongside reservists employed at companies like Google, Microsoft, and Meta.
While this fusion of military urgency and private-sector talent has fast-tracked breakthroughs, it has also led to civilian casualties, mistaken arrests, and questions about oversight.
Some experts warn that the rush to deploy these tools could set a dangerous precedent.
“The urgent need to cope with the crisis accelerated innovation, much of it A.I.-powered,” said Hadas Lorber, a former Israeli national security official. “It led to game-changing technologies on the battlefield and advantages that proved critical in combat.”
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