Netanyahu government launches AI plan amid doubts over budget, infrastructure

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has officially launched Israel's National Artificial Intelligence Directorate, a move promoted amid approaching elections. The directorate, established over the past year, is headed by former IDF intelligence official Brig. Gen. (res.) Erez Askal. Netanyahu's personal advisor Michael Eisenberg and new Likud candidate Oren Dobronsky, known for his role in "The Sharks" and a hummus eatery chain, are also backing the initiative.

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Those backing the declarations included Netanyahu's personal advisor and Aleph venture capital fund cofounder Michael Eisenberg, with posts on his social media management accounts.

The directorate recently detailed its plan, which includes introducing 30 hours of AI lessons annually for 8th and 9th graders. It also aims to bring 100 scientists back to Israel, with three having already committed. Plans also involve establishing a "physical AI city," examining robotics, and issuing a tender for a quantum computer, though the budget remains unknown. Additionally, there's an intention to purchase up to 100,000 Nvidia processors over several years at an undisclosed cost.

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After working in Silicon Valley for some time, Dobronsky returned to Israel several years ago.

However, the initiative faces scrutiny. Despite the formal declarations and polished presentation, an examination of the details reveals a cautious plan that falls short of previous ambitious promises. Critics argue that instead of a national revolution to position Israel at the forefront of global technology, the directorate's measures are largely inconsequential and fail to address the most critical questions in the AI sector.

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He also owns a US chain of hummus eateries.