Israel's National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy

Event Description

This roundtable discussion will include remarks from Professor Ben Israel, Head of the Blavatnik Interdisciplinary Cyber Studies Centre the Blavatnik Interdisciplinary Cyber Studies Centr at Tel Aviv University, to discuss Israel's AI Strategy. We'll also be joined be the Chamber's AI policy experts to discuss the Chamber's work on U.S. and international AI governance efforts. 

Details

Monday, December 14, 2020
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM (UTC-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Professor Isaac Ben-Israel 

Head of the National AI Committee, Office of the Prime Minister

Head of the Blavatnik Interdisciplinary Cyber Studies Centre

In 2019, Professor Ben-Israel was tapped by Prime Minister Netanyahu to lead a committee focused on developing a national AI strategy for Israel. The committee had 15 subcommittees, on which 300 senior personnel from the government, the Israeli Defense Force, institutions of higher education, and the technology industry served. 

Professor Ben Israel currently serves as the head of multiple programs at Tel Aviv University including the Security Studies Program, the Blavatnik Interdisciplinary Cyber Studies Centre, and the Yuval Ne’eman Workshop for Science, Technology and Security. IN addition to these duties, he also serves as the Chairman of the Israel Space Agency and Israel National Council for R&D.

Prior to filling his current roles, Professor Ben Israel served in a variety of positions in national security including a successful career in the Israeli Air Force culminating in being promoted to Major General and being appointed as Director of Defence R&D Directorate in the Isareli Ministry of Defence in 1998. In 2011, he was appointed by the Prime Minister to lead a task force that formulated Israel national Cyber policy. Following that he founded the National Cyber Headquarters in the PM Office.  In 2014, he was appointed by the PM to lead another task force which resulted in the government’s decision establish a new National Cyber Authority.

 Professor Ben Israel studied Mathematics, Physics and Philosophy at Tel-Aviv University, receiving his Ph.D. in 1988. He has also written several papers on military and security issues including Dialogues on Science and Military Intelligence, The Philosophy of Military Intelligence, Science, Technology and Security: From Soldiers in Combat up to Outer Space, and Israel Defence Doctrine.