OPINION: AI has ushered in a formidable new frontier in contemporary warfare
Technology expert and former head of the Shoah Foundation Stephen Smith tests out some of the AI tools being utilised in the Israel-Hamas digital battleground
In the early hours of 7 October, a harrowing scene unfolded in southern Israel. It was reminiscent of the brutal Chmielnicki pogroms of the 17th century – a low-tech massacre targeting Jewish civilians, still sleeping in their beds. This stark act of medieval violence contrasts sharply with the high-tech battleground of today’s warfare and propaganda, where Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a pivotal role, on and off the battlefield.
The recent AI revolution has opened a new front in warfare – one that extends beyond physical conflict to the digital realm. In this age, AI is a double-edged sword, capable of both sowing the age-old battle of disinformation and aiding in the quest for truth.
Project T.R.U.T.H. is an innovative app designed to combat the rampant spread of false information. Utilising an AI bot, this application scrutinises texts provided by users, discerning fact from fiction, and offering commentary.
I decided to try out the T.R.U.T.H. technology by putting in a matter of fact statement: “Israel has a right to self defence, but must adhere to international law in regard to the treatment of civilians during combat.”
The AI answered: “Indeed, Israel does uphold international law, strictly targeting only Hamas-led facilities, not civilians. Tragically, Hamas uses innocent Palestinians as shields, placing weapons in civilian neighbourhoods. Israel won’t abandon the right to self-defence due to Hamas’s inhuman tactics. #IsraelDefends #HamasEndangers
I gave the same task to Chat GPT. It answered: “Israel, like any sovereign nation, has the right to self-defence, yet it remains bound by international law to ensure the protection and humane treatment of civilians in any military action.”
T.R.U.T.H. AI is programmed to provide a point of view. Not all AI’s are born equal. T.R.U.T.H is is just not programmed to provide the facts, despite its name.
There is a much darker side to AI, which is even more prominent, such as the example of an AI-generated image of a baby screaming amid the rubble of a destroyed building.
Initially used to highlight the devastation of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria in February 2023, the same image resurfaced in the wake of the 7 October massacre. Repurposed for propaganda, the image was widely disseminated on social media and posters, ostensibly representing the suffering in Gaza, blurring the lines between reality and fabrication.
Israel has seen its share of AI misuse as well. A widely circulated generative AI image shows Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers being hailed as heroes by crowds that never existed. These generated images serve to bolster morale and support at the cost of historical truth.
There is a much darker side to AI, which is even more prominent, such as the example of an AI-generated image of a baby screaming amid the rubble of a destroyed building.
Platforms like OpenAI’s DALL-E, aware of the potential misuse of their technology, have imposed restrictions on creating graphic and politically charged imagery. These measures have not fully stemmed the tide. The Palestinian protest movement, for instance, has adeptly used AI tools to generate posters and propaganda materials for widespread distribution, showcasing the ease with which AI can be employed to shape narratives and influence public opinion.
A recent well-meaning project showing a peaceful future for the children of the region produced AI generated images of Palestinian and Israeli children in warm embrace looking forward to a future of peace. This while children on both sides die in their beds, are held hostage, and are buried under buildings.
As we navigate this new era, the key lies in understanding and regulating the use of AI. Ethical guidelines, robust verification mechanisms, and awareness campaigns are essential in ensuring that AI serves the cause of truth and justice, rather than being weaponised for propaganda and misinformation.
In full disclosure, I use AI tools in my daily work everyday, including in the writing of this piece. It helps me with my research, my structure, even my typos. But I never use AI to form my opinion, write for me, or give moral input. I am well aware of its limitations.
AI permeates every aspect of our lives, even when you do not see it, from social media to national security. Its impact on the Israeli-Hamas conflict is a stark reminder of its power and potential. It’s imperative that we only deploy it keenly aware of its potential to either uphold or undermine the truth.
AI permeates every aspect of our lives, even when you do not see it, from social media to national security. Its impact on the Israeli-Hamas conflict is a stark reminder of its power and potential.
The role of AI underscores a broader truth about technology – while it is inherently neutral, its application has profound implications for good or evil. Like any machine it reflects the intentions and ethics of its users. There is a phrase in the AI community, “Just because you can, does not mean you should.”
This digital battlefield presents a stark contrast to the brutal and bloody reality of 7 October. The AI wars underway call for a balanced approach. In so doing we may yet navigate these uncharted waters safely, deploying AI as a force for good, in a world all too familiar with the darker side of technology.
Stephen Smith is the co-founder and CEO of tech startup StoryFile, the co-founder of the National Holocaust Centre in Nottingham, and former head of the Shoah Foundation
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