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Israel’s Use of AI in the Gaza War: A New Era of Military Technology
During the conflict in Gaza, Israel has increasingly turned to artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance its military capabilities. From identifying potential targets to analyzing Arabic-language communications, these AI technologies have rapidly been tested and deployed, marking a significant shift in modern warfare. This reliance on AI has raised ethical questions and concerns about potential inaccuracies, but also demonstrates the potential for technological advancements in combat situations.
AI-Driven Target Identification and Airstrikes
Locating Hamas Commander Ibrahim Biari
In late 2023, Israel aimed to eliminate Ibrahim Biari, a high-ranking Hamas commander implicated in the October 7 attacks. Unable to locate him within Gaza’s tunnel network, Israeli intelligence employed a new AI-powered military technology.
- The technology, initially developed a decade prior, was enhanced with AI by Unit 8200, Israel’s equivalent of the National Security Agency.
- The AI audio tool analyzed Biari’s calls to determine his approximate location.
- Based on this information, Israel conducted airstrikes on October 31, 2023, resulting in Biari’s death, along with over 125 civilian casualties, as reported by Airwars.
Rapid Deployment of AI Technologies in Gaza
The use of the audio tool is just one instance of how Israel has exploited the Gaza conflict to quickly experiment and implement AI-supported military technology.
Partnerships and Innovation
- In the preceding 18 months, Israel integrated AI with facial recognition software to identify individuals, even with partially obscured faces.
- AI was utilized to compile potential targets for airstrikes.
- An Arabic-language AI model was created to power a chatbot capable of analyzing text messages, social media posts, and other Arabic content.
These initiatives often involved collaborations between soldiers in Unit 8200 and reserve personnel from tech firms like Google, Microsoft, and Meta. Unit 8200 established “The Studio,” an innovation hub that connected experts with AI projects.
Ethical Concerns and Potential Pitfalls
Despite the rapid development of AI tools, their deployment has occasionally led to misidentification, wrongful arrests, and civilian casualties. Some officials have expressed concerns about the ethical implications of these technologies, particularly regarding increased surveillance and potential civilian harm.
Israel’s Pioneering Role in AI Warfare
According to European and American defense officials, Israel has been the most active nation in testing AI tools in real-time combat scenarios. This provides a glimpse into the future use of such technologies in warfare and their possible shortcomings.
Expert Opinions
Hadas Lorber, head of the Institute for Applied Research in Responsible AI, emphasized that the “urgent need to cope with the crisis accelerated innovation, much of it AI-powered,” leading to “game-changing technologies” that proved critical in combat.
However, she also cautioned that these technologies “raise serious ethical questions,” advocating for checks and balances and emphasizing the importance of human oversight in final decisions.
Military Response and Company Statements
An Israeli military spokeswoman declined to comment on specific technologies due to their “confidential nature.” She stated that Israel is “committed to the lawful and responsible use of data technology tools” and is investigating the strike on Mr. Biari. Meta and Microsoft declined to comment. Google stated its employees performing reserve duties are not connected to Google’s work.
Historical Context: Tech Experimentation in Prior Conflicts
Israel has a history of leveraging conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon to experiment with and advance technological tools for its military.
- These include drones
- Phone hacking tools
- The Iron Dome defense system
Post-October 7 Developments: AI Deployment and Innovation
Following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, AI technologies were quickly approved for deployment.
Key Developments
- Cooperation between Unit 8200 and reserve soldiers in “The Studio” enabled the rapid development of new AI capabilities.
- Reservists from Meta, Google, and Microsoft became crucial in driving innovation in drones and data integration.
- AI algorithms were used to build drones capable of locking onto and tracking targets with heightened precision.
Aviv Shapira, CEO of XTEND, noted that AI allows drones to recognize and track objects, such as moving cars or individuals, with “deadly precision.”
Ethical Discussions and the Arabic-Language AI Model
Both the Israeli military and the U.S. Department of Defense are aware of the ethical implications of AI in warfare and engage in discussions about the technology’s responsible use.
The Arabic Language Model
One significant tool developed by “The Studio” was an Arabic-language AI model. The Israeli military overcame the challenge of limited Arabic data by utilizing decades of intercepted text messages, transcribed phone calls, and social media posts. This allowed them to create a chatbot capable of analyzing complex searches across images and videos.
For example, when Israel targeted a Hezbollah leader, the chatbot analyzed public reaction across the Arabic-speaking world, helping assess potential pressure for a counterstrike.
Limitations and Challenges of AI Implementation
The AI chatbot faced challenges in identifying modern slang and transliterated English words, requiring human review for corrections. It also occasionally provided incorrect answers. Despite these limitations, the AI tool significantly accelerated research and analysis.
Facial Recognition and Surveillance
At checkpoints near the Gaza Strip, cameras equipped with AI-backed facial recognition were implemented.
Issues with Facial Recognition
- The system sometimes struggled to identify individuals with obscured faces, leading to mistaken arrests.
- Palestinians were sometimes wrongly flagged by the system.
Project Lavender: AI for Identifying Hamas Members
Israel also utilized an AI algorithm, code-named “Lavender,” to sift through intelligence data and identify low-level Hamas members. Trained on a database of confirmed members, the system predicted potential new recruits, aiding in the selection of attack targets.
The Elimination of Ibrahim Biari: AI’s Role
Locating and eliminating Hamas’s senior leadership was a top priority.
Focus on Biari
After intercepting Mr. Biari’s calls, Israel turned to the AI-backed audio tool to pinpoint his location. The tool indicated an approximate location within a densely populated area. Although officials were warned about potential civilian casualties, the operation was approved.
AI for Hostage Location Post-Operation
Since the operation, Israeli intelligence has used the audio tool, along with maps and photos of Gaza’s tunnel system, to locate hostages. The tool has been refined to more accurately identify individuals.