Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday launched Israel’s national artificial intelligence program, declaring that the country intends to establish itself as a global AI powerhouse and capitalize on what he described as a brief but historic window of opportunity.

Netanyahu unveiled the initiative alongside Brig. Gen. (res.) Erez Askal, head of Israel’s National Artificial Intelligence Directorate.

According to Netanyahu, the program is aimed at strengthening Israel’s position at the forefront of rapidly developing artificial intelligence technology while harnessing AI to drive economic growth and benefit the Israeli public.

“We are in a historic window of opportunity, but it is a very short one,” Netanyahu said.

“The future is not waiting for us; we are creating it.”

The initiative comes as governments and technology companies around the world race to expand their artificial intelligence capabilities, with AI increasingly viewed as a critical component of economic competitiveness, national security and technological leadership.

Israel, already home to a major technology sector and numerous companies involved in artificial intelligence, is seeking to leverage that foundation as competition in the field accelerates worldwide.

Netanyahu said the national program would seek to position Israel among the world’s leading AI powers while translating technological advances into greater prosperity for the country’s economy and its citizens.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)