Netanyahu government launches AI plan amid doubts over budget, infrastructure- analysis

Israel's Prime Minister's Office recently launched the National Artificial Intelligence Directorate, headed by Brig. Gen. (res.) Erez Askal, with new Likud candidate Oren Dobronsky designated to oversee AI in the next government. The Directorate presented a cautious plan that includes 30 hours of AI lessons for 8th and 9th graders, bringing 100 scientists back to Israel, and exploring the construction of a quantum computer and an “AI city.” However, critics argue the plan is “too little and too late,” lacking a detailed budget and failing to address major issues like supercomputer construction or the halt in server farm connections to the electrical grid. This marks the fourth such national AI plan in seven years, with previous initiatives also falling short of their ambitious goals and budgets.