Israel Army’s AI Can Pick Targets and Coordinate Raids

Israel’s air forces are using AI to select targets for air strikes and manage wartime logistics, employing an AI recommendation system to analyze data and a model called Fire Factory to organize raids. While some military officials emphasize human oversight, the technology is not subject to state or international regulation, raising concerns over the large level of control AI has in military operations.

Israel is a global leader in autonomous weapons, using AI-powered gun turrets on its borders and autonomous suicide drones. Proponents argue that AI could reduce civilian casualties, but critics worry about the potential for mistakes that could harm innocents. The country’s AI systems have been used in battlefield situations, and if tensions with Iran continue to escalate, the AI tools will likely be deployed in a larger-scale conflict in the Middle East.

This year has seen significant advancements in autonomous weapons, such as AI flying a Lockheed Martin training jet for 17 hours and the US Navy receiving a ship that can operate autonomously for up to 30 days. More than 60 nations addressed concerns over AI use in warfare at the global Summit on Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain, with Israel being the only attendee not to sign the call for action.