Today, The Washington Post has published a post by Elizabeth Dwoskin which sheds light on a critical development in modern warfare, one that intertwines technology, ethics, and the future of international conflict. This is the story of Israel's transformation of its military intelligence through artificial intelligence, a story of innovation, controversy, and profound consequences for humanity.
In recent years, Israel has been at the forefront of deploying advanced AI systems in its military operations. After the tragic events of October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a devastating attack, Israel’s Defense Forces turned to AI tools to maintain a relentless pace in their military response. Among these tools was a sophisticated system called “Habsora,” or “the Gospel,” which generated hundreds of additional targets within hours.
This AI-driven approach has been hailed as groundbreaking, positioning Israel as a leader in military AI deployment. Yet, this revolution has sparked fierce debates both within the Israeli military and among international observers. Critics argue that the reliance on AI has contributed to the escalation of violence, with the ongoing Gaza conflict resulting in over 45,000 deaths, more than half of whom were women and children.
To understand the roots of this transformation, we must delve into the decade-long effort to develop and implement AI within Israel's intelligence unit, known as Unit 8200. Under the leadership of Yossi Sariel, this unit became an AI testing ground, using tools like “Lavender” and “Gospel” to automate intelligence gathering and target identification. These systems analyzed vast troves of data, including intercepted communications, satellite imagery, and social media posts, compressing what once took weeks into mere minutes. The IDF’s AI technology has even been described as resembling the real-time intelligence apparatus depicted in the movie “The Matrix.”
