I’ve been conflicted today in writing about AI and war, mainly because I know it’s been being used in two conflicts that I know of – for Ukraine’s defense, and for Israel’s offense.
When news came of Ukraine using AI, I wasn’t too surprised. The Ukrainians have been surprisingly resilient and adaptive with the Russian invasion, and it’s hard for me not to cheer a little in my heart because I believe the technology is being used for good.
When I found out about Israel’s use of AI and how they are using it, I couldn’t agree with it and found it to be terrible.
In my mind, based on what I know and also what I believe, Ukrainians and Palestinians have much in common with occupied territory, etc, though Russia hasn’t built a wall yet. In the same way, I view Russia and Israel’s actions as very much the same because of occupation and what appears to be wanton disregard for life in very dehumanizing ways. No, I don’t support Hamas, or taking hostages, but if we go down that route I also don’t support Israel’s taking prisoners prior to the hostage taking, for years, and consider that to be hostage taking at the least, unfair persecution at the worst.
Am I right? I allow that I may not be. I don’t have to have a firm opinion, and I don’t have to be angry with people who disagree with me because I am fortunate enough not to be on a side. I believe these things because of what I have observed from afar and make no claim to be an expert. I do support sovereignty, and Ukraine has a centuries long history of problems with Russia. We’re creeping up to a century with Israel and Palestinians, and in that conflict I just think about a few generations knowing only the insides of war.
How I view these wars colors the way I see the AI use. That’s a problem. AI use for picking targets can’t be good for one and not the other. In the story of David vs. Goliath, Goliath was the one at disadvantage but the story talks about how big Goliath was and how great a warrior he was whereas David was just some guy who happened to have new technology. What happens in that story if Goliath had the same technology and ability?
When I put it into that context, it became easier to resolve the internal moral and perhaps philosophical conflict I was having. I cannot say that what I believe is empirically right. I believe I’m right, but I may not be, and understanding that doesn’t mean I’m sitting on a fence.
It means that we, as humans, are very subjective in how we view technology use in war, and we do not truly understand it until it works in a way that works against what we believe.
If this doesn’t resonate with you, maybe it should.