Tech support for warfare: Google's AI assistance to the Israeli military

A recent investigation has revealed that Google played a significant role in assisting the Israeli military with cutting-edge AI technology during its ongoing operations in Gaza. The report highlights internal documents indicating that Google staff provided access to advanced AI tools for the Israeli Defense Ministry (IDF) starting in the early stages of the conflict. Despite public efforts to distance itself from the Israeli government's security apparatus, Google’s direct involvement with the military was confirmed.

Amid staff protests over the company’s contract with the Israeli government, known as "Nimbus," Google dismissed over 50 employees last year. They had raised concerns about the use of Google's technologies in military and intelligence operations that they feared would harm Palestinians.

Documents show that, following the October 7 attack, a Google Cloud employee escalated the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s requests for more access to AI technology. The ministry urgently sought to expand its use of "Vertex," a service enabling AI algorithms to process its data.

In a warning, one Google staff member mentioned that if the company did not provide more access, the Israeli military might turn to Amazon, a competitor also working under the "Nimbus" contract. Further internal documents from November 2023 show Google staff thanking colleagues for assisting with the Ministry’s AI requests. However, these documents do not specify how the Israeli military intended to use Google’s AI technology in military operations.

Additional documents from the spring and summer of 2024 reveal that the IDF continued to request more AI tools, including Google's "Gemini AI" for developing a military-specific AI assistant capable of handling documents and audio. Despite these ongoing requests, Google previously asserted that the "Nimbus" contract was not intended for sensitive military applications related to weapons or intelligence.

While the precise nature of the AI technology’s military use remains unclear, Israeli officials have previously acknowledged the direct benefits of the "Nimbus" contract for combat-related applications. The IDF, following the October 7 assault, reportedly turned to an AI tool named "Habsora," designed to assist military leaders with targeting decisions by analyzing intercepted communications and satellite imagery.

Additionally, the Israeli military has contracted with generative AI firms to support operations such as audio, video, and text analysis. The growing integration of AI into Israel’s military strategy underscores the critical role of tech companies like Google in modern warfare.