As the IDF integrates AI into nearly every layer of its ecosystem, the demand for soldiers capable of interpreting, and refining AI systems has surged
By Hezy Laing
The IDF is undergoing one of the most significant transformations in their history, and at the center of this shift is a new role rapidly becoming one of the most sought‑after positions in the military: the AI Analyst.
As the IDF integrates artificial intelligence into nearly every layer of its operational ecosystem, from intelligence gathering to battlefield decision‑making, the demand for soldiers capable of managing, interpreting, and refining AI systems has surged.
What began as a niche specialty inside Unit 8200 and the Intelligence Directorate has now expanded into combat brigades, air‑defense units, and even logistics formations.
The rise of the AI Analyst role is tied directly to the IDF’s experience in recent conflicts, particularly the 2021 Guardian of the Walls operation and the 2023–2024 Gaza war, where AI‑driven target‑generation systems such as “Habsora” (The Gospel) and predictive‑analysis platforms dramatically accelerated intelligence cycles.
These systems can process millions of data points from drones, satellites, SIGINT, and field sensors, but they still require human operators who understand both the technology and the battlefield.
AI Analysts serve as the bridge between raw machine output and operational commanders, ensuring that recommendations are accurate, relevant, and ethically vetted.
The IDF’s Digital Transformation Administration, led by Maj. Gen. Eran Niv, has described AI Analysts as “the new combat multipliers,” noting that units using AI‑supported analysis have seen intelligence‑processing times drop by 50 to 70 percent.
In air‑defense units, AI Analysts help optimize interception patterns for systems like Iron Dome and David’s Sling, while in ground forces they assist in mapping tunnel networks, predicting ambush zones, and identifying high‑value targets.
The role has become so central that the IDF has begun embedding AI Analysts directly inside brigade and battalion command posts, a first in Israeli military history.
Recruitment for the position is competitive, drawing candidates with backgrounds in math, coding, data science, and analytical thinking.
Training combines cyber instruction, intelligence methodology, and hands‑on work with classified AI platforms.
The IDF reports that retention rates in AI‑related roles are among the highest in the military, and graduates are heavily recruited by Israel’s tech sector.
As warfare becomes increasingly data‑driven, the AI Analyst has emerged not just as a support role but as a core operational asset — a new kind of soldier for a new kind of battlefield.
