Govt. approves National Artificial Intelligence Program

Israel’s government approved a National Artificial Intelligence Program on Tuesday, spearheaded by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the National AI Directorate in the Prime Minister’s Office. The initiative seeks to establish Israel as a global leader in AI, bolstering technological independence, national resilience, and economic growth by embedding AI across all sectors of life and the economy. The program outlines key strategic steps, including expanding national computing infrastructure to ensure advanced processing power for the Israeli economy. A primary goal is to develop 100,000 processing units for AI applications, while also advancing the establishment of a national quantum computer based on Israeli technologies. The government will also promote international collaborations to strengthen Israel’s position as a global AI hub. Human capital development is central to the program, with investments planned to train personnel across all population segments, starting from the education system. The initiative aims to leverage Israel’s existing strengths in cyber technology, positioning the country as a global AI superpower. Brig. Gen. (Res.) Erez Askal, head of the National AI Directorate, emphasized the historic opportunity Israel faces in shaping its future through AI. He stated that the government’s resolution is a decision about the future of the State of Israel, ensuring its power and prosperity in the coming decades. The program will also focus on removing barriers to computing resources for research, development, and industry, further promoting sovereignty in AI infrastructure and semiconductors. By taking these steps, Israel aims to avoid reliance on foreign technologies and secure its place at the forefront of the global AI era.