Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News : Israel’s military has faced criticism for the intensity of its bombardment of the Gaza Strip during the recent conflict with Hamas. While the IDF has claimed to only target military sites, there has been little attention paid to the methods used to select these targets and the role that artificial intelligence (AI) has played in the bombing campaign.
The IDF has a reputation for technical prowess and has previously made claims about using new technology in warfare. In the recent conflict, the IDF deployed an AI target-creation platform called “the Gospel,” which has significantly accelerated the process of selecting targets. The Gospel has been described as a “factory” that produces a large number of targets for airstrikes.
The details about the Gospel and its role in the war have been revealed through interviews with intelligence sources and statements from the IDF and retired officials. The platform has been used to produce automated recommendations for attacking targets, including the private homes of individuals suspected of being Hamas or Islamic Jihad operatives.
The IDF’s target administration division, which was formed in 2019, has helped build a database of suspected militants and has played a critical role in identifying targets for assassination. The division, powered by AI capabilities, has dramatically increased the number of targets identified, from 50 per year to 100 per day.
The use of AI in targeting decisions raises concerns about the risks posed to civilians. Experts are skeptical of claims that AI-based systems reduce civilian harm by encouraging more accurate targeting. The widespread destruction in Gaza during the recent conflict suggests that precision and narrowness of force are not being achieved.
Multiple sources have also revealed that each target has a collateral damage score, indicating the number of civilians expected to be killed in a strike. There have been instances where strikes resulted in a disproportionate number of civilian casualties.
The use of AI in warfare has broader implications, as other countries may learn from Israel’s example. The Israel-Hamas war could be an important moment for understanding the consequences of using AI in targeting choices with life-and-death consequences.
Overall, the use of AI in Israel’s bombing campaign raises questions about the ethics and effectiveness of these technologies in modern warfare.