Concerns raised over US military ‘using AI’ in Iran war

WorldPolitics
12 Mar 2026 • 2:24 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • The US military is reportedly using AI tools, including Palantir's Maven Smart System and Anthropic's Claude, to identify and prioritise targets for airstrikes in the conflict with Iran.
  • Members of Congress have called for increased oversight and strict guardrails on the military's use of AI, emphasising the need for human involvement in decisions regarding lethal force.
  • Admiral Brad Cooper of the U.S. Central Command confirmed the military employs advanced AI to process vast amounts of data, but reiterated that humans retain final decision-making authority on targeting.
  • An investigation by The Independent and Airwars identified Abdul-Rahman al-Rawi as the first known civilian fatality in a US airstrike acknowledged to have been assisted by AI.
  • A preliminary Pentagon report found the US responsible for an unintentional bombing of a school in Minab, Iran, killing around 175 people, predominantly children, though AI's involvement remains unconfirmed.

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