AI will be more important than nuclear capabilities, Bennett tells B'Yachad security conference

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett asserted on Wednesday that artificial intelligence will surpass nuclear capabilities in strategic importance in the coming years. Speaking at a security and foreign policy conference hosted by his B'Yachad party, Bennett stressed the urgency for Israel to remain at the forefront of AI development.

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In the not-too-distant future, AI capabilities will be even more important than nuclear weapons.

"In the not-too-distant future, AI capabilities will be even more important than nuclear weapons," Bennett stated. He warned against complacency, adding, "Artificial intelligence is the next arms race of superpowers, and despite the current government's lag in the last four years, we will not let Israel fall behind."

Bennett also addressed regional security threats, particularly from Iran and its proxies. He articulated a clear policy of direct retaliation against Iran for any attacks carried out by its allies within Israel's borders. "If Hezbollah shoots at us, we will shoot at Iran. A strike by Iran's proxies within Israel's borders will result in retaliation within Iran's borders," he declared.

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Artificial intelligence is the next arms race of superpowers, and despite the current government's lag in the last four years, we will not let Israel fall behind.

Furthermore, Bennett proposed a redefinition of regional alliances and threats. He suggested designating Qatar as an enemy country and advocated for removing Qatari and Turkish influence from the Gaza Strip, proposing coordination with Egypt instead. He also highlighted the issue of approximately half a million illegal weapons circulating within Israel, urging they be treated as a security threat requiring decisive action from the IDF and Shin Bet.

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If Hezbollah shoots at us, we will shoot at Iran. A strike by Iran's proxies within Israel's borders will result in retaliation within Iran's borders.