Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed Brig. Gen. (res.) Erez Askal to head Israel’s newly established National Artificial Intelligence Headquarters, which will operate under the Prime Minister’s Office.
The body, initiated by Netanyahu, is designed to position Israel as a global AI superpower. It will oversee the creation and execution of a national AI strategy, focusing on innovation, regulation, infrastructure and research while bolstering Israel’s international standing in the field.
The headquarters will develop a national plan to accelerate AI advancement, providing professional guidance to government ministries on regulatory matters. It will also promote the establishment of advanced infrastructures—such as energy complexes, AI research centers and sovereign supercomputing capabilities—and spearhead international cooperation in the sector.
Askal, who brings extensive experience from the defense establishment, previously led the Digital Transformation Directorate in the IDF’s ICT (Information and Communications Technology) and Cyber Defense Directorate, commanded Unit 9900, responsible for gathering visual intelligence, and held key intelligence roles in the Air Force and Military Intelligence’s Research Division.
