As autonomous systems increasingly make combat decisions without human intervention, questions about accountability, oversight, and the concentration of military power in fewer hands are reshaping defense policy debates across democracies worldwide.
An opinion piece in The Jerusalem Post argued that physical AI—intelligence embedded in machines that move, perceive and act in the real world—is fundamentally altering warfare and that Israel cannot afford to miss the technological shift. The article described physical AI as encompassing autonomous drones, ground robots navigating urban terrain, and naval systems conducting persistent surveillance without crews, with outputs measured in "motion, force and presence."
The piece cited Israel's existing autonomous systems as proof of concept, including Elbit's Hermes drones, which have flown in contested airspace for over a decade; Rafael's autonomous weapon stations guarding Israel's borders; and Iron Dome's targeting logic, described as an early form of physical AI operating under real engagement timelines.
The Technology-to-Deployment Pipeline
The article emphasized that Israel possesses significant structural advantages in developing these systems. It noted that a generation of Israeli engineers built systems tested under fire, with Unit 8200 and the broader intelligence community producing AI and sensing talent that understands operational constraints most engineers worldwide have never encountered. The piece argued this pipeline—where military personnel transition to private companies carrying operational experience—represents "one of Israel's most underappreciated strategic assets."
The United States is moving with what the article described as "unusual urgency." The Pentagon's Replicator initiative explicitly targets thousands of autonomous platforms, described as "attritable and expendable," deployed at scale. Companies including Anduril and Shield AI are developing integrating software, while DARPA has been laying scientific foundations for autonomous ground vehicles and collaborative combat aircraft.
The Interoperability Challenge
The article identified two critical pressures on Israel's defense-technology sector. First, interoperability: Israeli systems must work alongside American platforms in any serious conflict scenario. Second, competition: American companies are moving rapidly into markets where Israeli firms historically held advantages.
While hardware and talent exist, the piece noted that the software infrastructure remains underdeveloped. Critical gaps include autonomy software functioning in GPS-denied environments, simulation platforms for pre-deployment testing, and sensor fusion systems operating in degraded conditions. The article argued that the next generation of Israeli defense-tech companies must emerge in these areas, developing systems capable of operating in communications blackouts and making sound decisions at the edge while meeting validation standards required by both the IDF and NATO partners.
The piece cited the war in Ukraine as a "live proving ground for physical AI at scale," referencing Ukraine's use of FPV drones coordinated by AI-assisted targeting and noting that autonomous systems have proven "battlefield-decisive even when deployed asymmetrically by a smaller, outgunned force." It also referenced Iran-supplied Shahed drones as having pushed autonomous loitering munitions into mainstream military doctrine.
The article noted that Israel's experience on October 7, 2023—now in the third anniversary year—added urgency to the rethinking of border sensing, autonomous alert systems, and human-machine teaming required to respond faster than manual systems allow.
The Competitive Window
The piece concluded that countries solving reliable autonomous systems first will gain military advantages that traditional defense spending cannot easily offset. It argued Israel possesses the operational history, engineering talent, and threat environment to become a genuine leader in this domain, but emphasized that the window to build that position remains open and will not stay open indefinitely.
The article was written by a founding partner at Aurelius Capital, described as a defense-led dual-use technology fund investing in Israeli founders across cybersecurity, autonomous systems, drones and communications.
Why This Matters:
The rapid development and deployment of autonomous weapons systems raises fundamental questions about democratic accountability, civilian protection, and the concentration of military decision-making. As physical AI systems assume greater autonomy in combat environments, concerns about human oversight, rules of engagement, and compliance with international humanitarian law become increasingly urgent. The competitive pressure described in the article—where military advantage goes to nations that deploy autonomous systems fastest—creates incentives that may prioritize speed over the robust testing, transparency, and democratic deliberation that societies typically demand before deploying weapons systems. The integration of these technologies across allied nations also raises questions about shared standards for autonomous decision-making and accountability mechanisms when systems operate across borders or in coalition contexts. How democracies govern this transition—whether through strong regulatory frameworks, international agreements, and meaningful human oversight—will significantly shape both military capabilities and the protection of civilians and democratic norms.