Title: Israel’s Use of AI in Conducting Air Strikes Raises Concerns as Death Toll in Gaza Surpasses 14,000
The conflict in Gaza has reignited following the end of a week-long truce between Israel and Hamas, resulting in casualties within minutes of the fighting resuming. Israel’s determination to dismantle Hamas intensified after the deadly attack on October 7, which claimed the lives of 1,400 individuals. Shockingly, the death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has now surpassed 14,000.
Israel’s recent ground and air offensive in Gaza has once again brought the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to the forefront. In 2021, Israel launched “Operation Guardians of the Wall” as part of its military campaign against Palestinians in Gaza, earning the conflict the moniker of the “First AI war.” AI tools were employed to gather data that would aid in striking targets within Gaza.
In the ongoing conflict, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have turned to Artificial Intelligence for target selection and conducting precise air strikes. Previously utilized systems such as “Gospel,” “Alchemist,” and “Depth of Wisdom” have made a comeback.
Tools like “Gospel” enable automatic generation of targets at a rapid pace by enhancing accuracy and providing high-quality intelligence material as needed. The IDF stated, “With the help of artificial intelligence, and through the rapid and automatic extraction of updated intelligence, it produces a recommendation for the researcher, aiming for a complete alignment between the machine’s suggestion and human identification.”
During the 2021 conflict, data from Human Intelligence (HUMINT), Visual Intelligence (VISINT), and Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) were collected and fed into these systems to facilitate precision strikes. Information obtained from satellites, ground intelligence, and surveillance is processed through these AI systems.
According to the IDF’s article dated November 2, over 12,000 targets have been successfully hit during the 27 days of fighting, amounting to nearly 444 targets per day. The increased number of targets can be attributed to the data generated by AI.
AI platforms analyze data to identify targets for air strikes, enabling swift assembly of subsequent raids through an artificial intelligence model known as Fire Factory. This model calculates munition loads, prioritizes and assigns thousands of targets to aircraft and drones, and proposes a schedule.
The IDF utilized data processed by AI tool “Gospel” to select targets within Hamas, including the assassination of Hamas operatives. This target division has enabled the IDF to compile a database of approximately 30,000 to 40,000 suspected militants, as reported by reliable sources.
Former IDF head Aviv Kochavi has emphasized that the target division is “powered by AI capabilities” and involves hundreds of officers and soldiers. In the past, Israel Aerospace Industries and Matrix Defense collaborated to develop AI-based automated target detection systems. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has also incorporated AI into Spice Bombs and other surveillance technologies.
As the death toll in Gaza continues to rise, concerns are mounting regarding Israel’s use of AI in conducting air strikes. The ethical implications of relying heavily on AI for target selection and the potential for civilian casualties are subjects of intense debate and scrutiny.
Please wait for a response to load…
