Computer Says Maybe

Computer Says Kill: The Palestine Laboratory W/ Antony Loewenstein

Computer Says Maybe

•June 5, 2026•49 min

Computer Says Maybe•Jun 5, 2026

Why It Matters

Understanding how conflict zones become laboratories for advanced warfare reveals the hidden costs of AI‑driven precision weapons and the ethical implications of exporting such tech. The episode is timely as global public opinion shifts against Israel’s actions, influencing arms sales, diplomatic alliances, and the broader debate over the militarisation of technology.

Key Takeaways

•Israel tests weapons and surveillance in occupied Palestinian territories.
•"Silicon Valley in Sparta" drives domestic arms and AI development.
•Israel spends $1 billion on propaganda and influencer campaigns.
•Alliances shift toward far‑right regimes, selling tech worldwide.
•AI tools target civilians, blurring precision war claims.

Pulse Analysis

In this episode, Antony Loewenstein exposes how Israel has turned the occupied Palestinian territories into a live‑fire laboratory for weapons and surveillance systems. He traces the evolution from early arms exports to today’s “Silicon Valley in Sparta” mindset, where a self‑sufficient tech‑military complex fuels AI‑driven targeting tools. By domesticating production, Israel aims to sidestep reliance on U.S. and German supplies, positioning itself as a global exporter of precision‑war technology while masking the reality of indiscriminate civilian harm.

Loewenstein also details Israel’s strategic pivot toward far‑right allies and a massive propaganda push. Facing growing international condemnation, the state is allocating roughly $1 billion to influencer campaigns, glossy beach imagery, and social‑media ads designed to shore up evangelical support and rebrand its image. Simultaneously, it deepens ties with authoritarian regimes and neo‑fascist networks across Europe and Latin America, creating a market for its surveillance and weaponry that sidesteps traditional Western scrutiny.

The discussion highlights the broader implications for the tech industry and global security. AI tools—ranging from facial‑recognition to data‑fusion platforms supplied by firms like Palantir—are being used to compile massive civilian data sets, eroding the promise of “clean war.” This convergence of military ambition and commercial tech raises urgent questions for policymakers, investors, and corporate leaders about ethical responsibility, export controls, and the long‑term stability of a market built on conflict-driven innovation.

Episode Description

Israel has a long history of making new technological weapons of war and exporting them to the world. They have used Palestine as a testing ground to show how new tools can enable mass killing. And they are banking that demand for their products might protect them on the world stage.

More like this: Anthropic is NOT the Good Guy w/ Maddy Batt

In part seven of Computer Says Kill, author of The Palestine Laboratory Antony Loewenstein explains that for Israel, precision warfare is just performative. Israel has the means to kill with precision, but this is at odds with the logics of genocide. Antony will take us through the history of Israel’s dealings with authoritarian states, and Israel and American states do not need to take state control of a their domestic tech industries because they are already so ideologically aligned with their regimes.

Show Notes

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