We now have evidence that Israel used AI warfare in the conflict with Hamas. In this post, we’ll cover briefly the three main ways Israel used warfare AI and the ethical concerns they raise. Shifting from facial recognition posts, we now turn to this controversial topic.
Semi-Autonomous Machine Gun Robot
Photos surfaced on the Internet showing a machine-gun-mounted robot patrolling the Gaza wall. The intent is to deter Hamas militants from crossing the border or dealing with civil unrest. Just to be clear, they are not fully autonomous as they still have a remote human controller that must make the ultimate striking decision.
Yet, they are more autonomous than drones and other remote-controlled weapons. They can respond to fire or use non-lethal forces if challenged by enemy forces. They are also able to maneuver independently around obstacles.
Israel Defence Force (IDF) seeks to replace soldier patrols with semi-autonomous technologies like this. From their side, the benefits are clear: less risk for soldiers, cheaper patrolling power, and more efficient control of the border. It is part of a broader strategy of creating a smart border wall.
Less clear is how these Jaguars (as they are called) will do a better job in distinguishing enemy combatants from civilians.
Anti-Artilhery Systems
Hamas’s primary tactic to attack Israel is through short-range rockets – lots of them. Just in the last conflict, Hamas launched 4,000 rockets against Israeli targets. Destroying them mid-air was a crucial but extremely difficult and costly task.
For decades, IDF has improved its anti-ballistic capability in order to neutralize this threat. The most recent addition in this defense arsenal is using AI to better predict incoming missiles trajectories. By collecting a wealth of data from actual launches, IDF can train better models. This allows them to use anti-missile projectiles sparingly, leaving those destined to uninhabited areas alone.
This strategy not only improves accuracy, which now stands at 90% but also can save the IDF money. At $50K a pop, IDF must use anti-missile projectiles wisely. AI warfare is helping Israel save on resources and hopefully some lives as well.
Target Intelligence
The wealth of data was useful in other areas as well. IDF used intelligence to improve its targeted strikes in Gaza. Using 3-D models of the Gaza territory, they could focus on hitting weapons depots and missile bases. Furthermore, AI technology was employed for other facets of warfare. For example, military strategists used AI to ascertain the best routes for ground force invasions.
This was only possible because of the rich data coming from satellite imaging, surveillance cameras, and intercepted communications. As this plethora of information flowed in, partner-finding algorithms were essential in translating them into actionable intelligence.
Employing AI technology clearly gave Israel a considerable military advantage. Hence, the number of casualties on each side speaks for themselves: 253 in Palestine versus 12 on the Israeli side. AI warfare was a winner for Israel.
With that said, wars are no longer won on the battlefield alone. Can AI do more than giving one side an advantage? Could it actually diminish the human cost of war?
Ethical Concerns with AI warfare
As I was writing this blog I reached out to Christian Ethicists and author of Robotic Persons, Dr. Josh Smith for reactions. He sent me the following (edited for length) statement:
“The greatest concern I have is that these defensive systems, which most AI weapons systems are, is that they become a necessary evil. Because every nation is a ‘threat’ we must have weapon systems to defend our liberty, and so on. The economic cost is high. Many children in the world die from a lack of clean water and pneumonia. Yet, we invest billions into AI for the sake of security.
Dr Josh Smith
I could not agree more. As the case for IDF illustrates, AI can do a lot to give military advantage in a conflict. AI warfare is not just about killer robots but encompasses an ecosystem of applications that can improve effectiveness and efficiency. Yet, is that really the best use of AI.
Finally, As we have stated before AI is best when employed for the flourishing of life. Can that happen in warfare? The jury is still out but it is hard to reconcile the flourishing of life with an activity focused on death and destruction.