In the first 24 hours of the assault on Iran, the US military struck over 1,000 targets, doubling their previous scale. AI systems like Maven’s Smart System accelerated this process, revolutionizing how wars are fought.

Project Maven, initiated in 2017, aimed to apply computer vision to drone footage but quickly shifted focus towards targeting entities on the battlefield. The project sparked protests at Google and saw Palantir take over its development. Now used across NATO, Maven synthesizes satellite imagery, radar, social media, and more to identify targets.

Colonel Drew Cukor spearheaded Project Maven, driven by his frustration with outdated intelligence tools in Afghanistan. He envisioned a system that would bring intelligence directly to frontline operators via 'white dots' on maps. However, the technology’s rapid development raised ethical concerns, exemplified when a girls’ school was mistakenly targeted.

Despite Google’s initial stance that Maven would only be used for non-offensive purposes, the project’s true intention lay in targeting high-value objectives. This has led to discussions about fully autonomous weapons and whether AI is accelerating conflict beyond human control.