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It looks just like the opening screen of ChatGPT or any other modern AI chatbot: a clean web interface with a text box at the center asking, "What interests you?" At the bottom are options for searching and filtering information sources.
Meet Genie, the IDF’s new AI chatbot, revealed here for the first time. Named after the energetic wish-granting spirit from Aladdin, Genie was launched a month ago as a web app on the IDF’s closed internal network and is already operating in all military command centers in its initial version.
A commander who needs to make dozens of critical decisions quickly — based on reliable data — can now, just like with ChatGPT, ask Genie free-form questions and receive detailed answers. Genie taps into the vast operational data stored in the IDF’s cloud, updates in real-time and, like any AI chatbot, can identify anomalies, summarize events and extract key insights from this database.
Though developers from the IDF’s C4I and Cyber Defense Directorate stress that this is still a "trial version" and not yet fully trusted for decision-making, feedback has been enthusiastic. Three command centers have been selected for daily direct feedback with developers and the full version is slated for completion in just three to four months. A mobile version for military devices is also in the works.
The 'Text Factory’ behind Genie
The IDF’s “Lotem” C4I Unit is a unique hybrid — acting as an internet provider, mobile operator, software and cyber services firm, and satellite communications company, all in one. It manages the military’s wired, wireless and satellite networks, its independent cellular infrastructure and the cloud-based apps supporting combat operations.
The "Text Factory", a small team within Lotem’s Matzpen unit (Military Systems for Command, Control and Management), is responsible for the AI chatbot project. Established just six months ago, the unit serves as the IDF’s central software hub, developing and maintaining its operational systems.
"We operate like a tech startup," says Captain D., 28, head of the Text Factory. "We have product managers, development teams and even 'clients' — every field unit using computers, tablets or military phones."
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Captain D., a data and AI engineering graduate with an MBA, is typical of the elite team behind Genie: top-tier talent picked from IDF programs, most with master’s degrees — some even pursuing PhDs while serving. "The mission is extremely complex, using cutting-edge academic tech. We need the best of the best," he says.
Solving the 'big data' problem
Today, when commanders need information — say, which unit first raided Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital — they often waste time searching across multiple disconnected systems. "If it’s not simple, it won’t be used," says Captain D. "Genie pulls real-time data from all operational systems, delivering concise answers in natural language."
Training a military-grade AI model typically costs billions, but the IDF is using RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) — a method that enhances open-source AI models with the military’s proprietary data instead of building one from scratch.
"The biggest AI challenge is accuracy," admits Captain D. "But RAG lets us set strict boundaries — Genie only answers from approved sources, with responses backed by references. It doesn’t replace human judgment; it streamlines it."
While Genie currently only provides answers, Captain D. acknowledged the trend toward AI-assisted decision-making: "Wherever tech goes, the IDF will adapt."
Another new unit, led by Major Yonatan, 28, focuses on integrating AI innovations from academia and industry into the military. "Think of the Lotem unit as Amazon analyzing customer data — except we’re extracting combat insights," he says. His team works on video, image and audio AI, unlike Genie’s text-based focus.
With just 15 top-tier AI specialists joining the IDF yearly (only a third assigned to C4I), competition for talent is fierce. "It’s not just about money," says Captain D. "The operational impact — especially now, during war — is what keeps us here."
For now, Genie remains confined to the IDF’s operational cloud, excluding logistics and medical systems. But if those domains migrate, Genie’s reach could expand further. As AI reshapes modern warfare, the IDF is betting big — not just to keep up but to lead.