Israel used innovative A.I.-infused military technology to locate and assassinate a top Hamas commander hiding in Gaza’s tunnels in late 2023, according to three Israeli and American officials. The A.I. audio tool pinpointed the commander’s location, leading to an airstrike that killed him, along with more than 125 civilians, on October 31, 2023. This marked a significant advancement for Israel in deploying A.I. technologies in real-time battles.
Nine American and Israeli defense officials revealed that Israel rapidly tested and deployed various A.I.-backed military technologies during the war in Gaza, with the help of enlisted soldiers from Unit 8200 and reserve soldiers from companies like Google, Microsoft, and Meta. These efforts led to advancements in a wide range of technologies, such as facial recognition, drone capabilities, and Arabic-language A.I. models.
Despite the technological advancements, officials acknowledged that deployment of these A.I. tools sometimes led to mistaken identifications, arrests, and civilian deaths, leading to ethical concerns. Hadas Lorber, an expert in A.I. ethics, emphasized the need for checks and balances in utilizing these technologies and noted that humans should ultimately make decisions in deploying them.
While Israel’s military remains committed to the responsible use of data technology tools, challenges arise in ensuring the accuracy and ethical implications of A.I. technologies during wartime. The collaboration between Unit 8200 and tech reservists from top companies has driven innovation in A.I.-powered military tools, signaling a new frontier in warfare technology.
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