In late 2023, Israel successfully used an AI-infused military technology to assassinate a top Hamas commander, Ibrahim Biari, in the Gaza Strip. The new tool was developed by Israel’s Unit 8200 and quickly deployed after the Oct. 7 massacres carried out by Hamas. Despite the success of the operation, over 125 civilians were also killed in the airstrike that targeted Mr. Biari.
The use of AI-powered military technologies in real-time battles has become a hallmark of Israel’s defense strategy. From facial recognition software to Arabic-language chatbots, Israel has rapidly developed and deployed various AI tools with the help of reservists from tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Meta.
The development of AI tools has raised ethical questions and has sometimes resulted in mistaken identifications, arrests, and civilian casualties. The urgent need to respond to crises has accelerated innovation in AI technologies, but experts emphasize the importance of maintaining checks and balances and ensuring that final decisions are made by humans.
Israel’s use of AI in warfare has been praised for its game-changing impact on the battlefield, but critics warn of the potential risks and consequences of unchecked use of such technologies. The Israeli military is committed to the responsible and lawful use of data technology tools, but ongoing investigations into incidents like the strike on Mr. Biari highlight the complexities and challenges of integrating AI into military operations.
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