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Google's Nimbus Project Supplied AI Tools to Israeli Military Amid October 2023 Israel-Hamas War

Jan 22, 2025, 04:16 AM

Internal documents obtained by The Washington Post reveal that Google has been providing advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools to Israel's military since the early weeks of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. The collaboration, part of the $1.2 billion Nimbus cloud computing project signed in 2021, included access to Google's Vertex AI platform and the Gemini AI technology. These tools were reportedly used by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to analyze data, identify targets, and enhance military operations, including the use of the Habsora AI tool. Employees within Google raised ethical concerns, with over 100 staff members calling for a review of the partnership, but the company dismissed these concerns and terminated more than 50 protesting employees in 2024. The documents also indicate that Google expedited access to AI tools for Israel's Defense Ministry to prevent them from turning to competitors like Amazon. The collaboration extended until November 2024, following the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack. The revelations have sparked criticism from human rights groups, which argue that such collaborations contribute to the escalation of violence and potential human rights violations in Gaza.