The US military’s use of AI to select targets has been marred by a devastating mistake, where a missile strike hit an Iranian school, killing 120 children. The error was caused by a missed note from an intelligence analyst and incompatible systems that didn’t communicate with each other. This incident highlights the need for improved infrastructure and oversight in the use of AI for target selection. The US military’s aging database system and lack of automation are stark contrasts to the speed and capabilities of AI, which is supposed to reduce errors and improve accuracy. Why it matters: this story underscores the critical importance of integrating AI with reliable and up-to-date systems to prevent such tragedies in the future.