AI System 'Lavender' Fuels Israel's Military Actions in Gaza: Understanding Its Role in Ongoing Conflict

‘Lavender’: The AI Machine Directing Israel’s Bombing Spree in Gaza

Source: +972 Magazine

Introduction to Lavender AI

A recent investigation revealed that the Israeli army has integrated an artificial intelligence system named **Lavender** into its military operations, which has marked tens of thousands of Palestinians as assassination targets with little human oversight.

Operational Mechanism

• Lavender identifies individuals it deems as operatives of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), estimating approximately **37,000 potential targets**.
• The AI system's output is treated almost like a human decision, with military personnel reportedly spending as little as **20 seconds** to approve targets based primarily on gender.
• Targets are often attacked when they are at home, frequently during the night, thus endangering entire families.

Impact on Civilian Casualties

• The use of Lavender has led to significant civilian casualties, with reports indicating that **thousands of Palestinians**, many of whom are women and children, have been killed based on the AI's recommendations.
• New policies allowed for a degree of civilian casualties previously deemed unacceptable, with **up to 20 civilians** permitted to die alongside a targeted militant.
• The Israeli army has transformed its approach to military operations, targeting individuals based on risky assumptions derived from AI data processing, rather than verified intelligence.

Individual Case Studies

Accurate Identification Issues

• Lavender sometimes marks individuals for assassination based on tenuous connections to known militants, amplifying the likelihood of errors.
• There are instances where **false positives** resulted in the bombing of individuals who were not involved with Hamas or PIJ.

Linking to Family Homes

• Automated systems, including one nicknamed “**Where’s Daddy?**”, are used to track these targets home, increasing the likelihood of collateral damage.
• Consequently, the vast majority of civilian deaths have occurred in family homes, with entire families often obliterated in airstrikes.

The Weaponry Used

Selection of Munitions

• The Israeli army predominantly utilizes **unguided munitions**, often referred to as "dumb bombs," for striking targets marked by Lavender.
• This choice of munitions leads to wholesale destruction, including attacks that could obliterate a home and its occupants without discriminating based on the target's importance.

Conclusion

The integration of **AI technology** like Lavender into military operations raises critical ethical concerns regarding the significant civilian toll in Gaza. With decision-making processes increasingly reliant on automated systems, the potential for mistakes and unprecedented collateral damage appears troublingly high.