TEL AVIV: Israel's use of advanced artificial intelligence technology in its military operations against Gaza has raised significant concerns about increased civilian casualties and ethical implications.
According to Anadolu Agency, Israel has been developing its "AI factory" for over a decade, a sophisticated system that has been employed in military actions since October 7, 2023, targeting numerous locations in Gaza with remarkable efficiency.
The Washington Post report, which cited multiple sources familiar with the operations, highlighted that the AI systems, including those named 'Gospel' and 'Lavender,' have processed intelligence at unprecedented speeds. This technological advancement enabled the Israeli military to strike 12,000 targets within weeks, an operation described as being conducted within a 'target factory,' where the emphasis was placed on speed rather than comprehensive intelligence assessments.
Further details reveal that the AI technology gained prominence in 2020 under the leadership of Yossi Sariel, head of Israeli military's Intelligence Unit 8200. Sariel, a strong advocate for AI, emphasized the system's capability to compile "target databases" by analyzing digital traces of individuals, which include names, locations, and movements. Concerns have been raised about Sariel's "blind devotion" to AI, with Israeli columnist Ben Caspit noting a lack of information sharing between intelligence units and soldiers on the ground.
To address this issue, Mossad and Unit 8200 developed a centralized intelligence "pool," which was further supported by a restructuring initiative at Israel's Nevatim Airbase, colloquially referred to as "AI factories." The Israeli military's investment in cloud technologies has facilitated operations against Hezbollah, granting soldiers direct access to a new app called "Hunter" for intelligence data.
Unit 8200's development of a "target bank," which contains precise coordinates of Hamas and Hezbollah locations, underscores the scope and scale of this AI-driven operation. The AI systems have been trained to continually update and verify target databases using billions of signals from various sources, including drones and social media profiles.
Despite these technological advancements, the use of AI in Israel's military operations has led to more than 45,000 deaths, predominantly among women and children. Furthermore, Tel Aviv's continued blockade on Gaza has left its population in dire humanitarian conditions. The international response has been severe, with the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice concerning its actions in Gaza.