The Israeli government on Tuesday approved a sweeping national program to accelerate artificial intelligence development and establish the Jewish state as one of the world’s leading AI powers, with major investments planned in computing infrastructure, quantum technology, research, education and public services.
The initiative, spearheaded by the National AI Directorate in the Prime Minister’s Office and approved on the recommendation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, aims to strengthen Israel’s technological independence and national resilience while accelerating economic growth and embedding AI capabilities across all sectors of society.
“Our goal is clear: to establish Israel as a global leader in the field of artificial intelligence, because artificial intelligence is not just another technology—it is a revolution,” Netanyahu said.
“It will affect the State of Israel’s economy, security, science, industry, health, education—and its international standing. We will leverage our greatest advantage: Israel’s human capital. We will turn Israel into a global AI superpower, just as we did with cyber.”
The government resolution lays out a comprehensive national strategy encompassing infrastructure, research and development, workforce training, labor market adaptation, public services and international cooperation.
Among its centerpiece initiatives is the expansion of sovereign national computing infrastructure to ensure Israel has the processing power needed for research, industry and national security. The plan sets a target of 100,000 processing units while promoting Israeli capabilities in semiconductors and advanced computing infrastructure to reduce dependence on foreign technologies.
The government also approved the establishment of a national quantum computer based, as much as possible, on Israeli-developed technologies and expertise, with the goal of keeping Israel at the forefront of next-generation innovation.
The program calls for expanded international partnerships in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies to strengthen Israel’s role as a global center for AI research, development and commercialization.
Another major component focuses on developing human capital through extensive investment in AI education and workforce training across all sectors of society—from schools and universities to professional retraining programs—to preserve Israel’s competitive advantage in the decades ahead.
Recognizing AI’s potential to reshape employment, the government will establish a national mechanism to formulate long-term policies addressing labor market changes while maintaining economic growth and social resilience.
The plan provides for the creation of a National Artificial Intelligence Institute to connect government, academia, industry and investors, alongside specialized acceleration hubs designed to identify national and global challenges and transform them into practical AI-based solutions.
In the security sphere, Israel will concentrate national efforts on developing Cyber AI and Physical AI capabilities while strengthening defenses against deepfake technologies and other emerging threats.
The government also intends to deploy AI tools throughout the public sector to improve services for citizens, reduce processing and waiting times, increase access to information and streamline government operations.
Brig. Gen. (res.) Erez Askal, head of the National AI Directorate, described the initiative as a historic opportunity that will shape Israel’s future for decades.
“The resolution ensures Israel’s power and prosperity in the coming decades. We are in a historic window of opportunity,” Askal said.
“In the coming years, it will become clear which countries will succeed in establishing their place at the global forefront of the artificial intelligence era, and which will be forced to rely on technologies, infrastructure and capabilities developed by others. The decisions we make today will determine Israel’s stature for many years to come.”
He added that artificial intelligence “is rapidly becoming the central power infrastructure of the 21st century, affecting all components of national power.”
Askal concluded, “The government resolution that was approved today and crafted jointly with all government branches is a decision about the future of the State of Israel.”
