Artificial intelligence has the power to reshape education, offering tools to personalize learning, support teachers, and create innovative classrooms. But with this potential comes responsibility – how do we ensure these advancements promote fairness, protect privacy, and remain inclusive?

These critical questions were at the heart of our recent roundtable event, held in partnership with the Ministry of Education and supported by Google.org. Participants from the education, policy, and technology sectors came together to tackle key challenges, including the minimum age for introducing AI in schools, who should oversee and regulate AI tools, what criteria should define safe and effective AI use in education, and how to prepare students for a workforce shaped by AI.

Through engaging roundtable discussions, we explored both the opportunities and the challenges of integrating AI into education. Together, we examined how to craft policies that prioritize student safety, ensure fairness, and maximize the benefits of AI for learning.

The event featured contributions from Uri Gabai, CEO of RISE Israel; Adv. Gaya Harari-Heit, VP of Strategy & Policy at RISE Israel; Liat Efrati Glazer and Doron Avni from Google Israel; and Merav Zarbiv and Michal Lester from the Ministry of Education, who also played key roles in leading the discussions alongside Dr. Yishai Mor, Lehi Feldman, and Idit Zamir-Yaffe. Special thanks to Maayan Gishuri, Operations Manager at RISE Israel; Ran Shavit; and Omri Chorin, whose efforts behind the scenes helped make this event a success.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this insightful discussion! As part of the AI Forward Initiative, we will soon release an in-depth study that explores how AI can be effectively integrated into the education system – from empowering students and teachers to system-wide implementation.

We look forward to shaping the Israeli education system’s more innovative and inclusive future.

Photos: Noy Naftali

Imagine this: on your way to a conference, you trip on a broken sidewalk and decide to sue the municipality. Would you feel comfortable with an AI judge handling your case to expedite the process and deliver a faster verdict? Now, consider a criminal case – if you were the defendant, would you trust an AI judge with your fate? And when it comes to legal representation, would you prefer your lawyer to leverage AI to craft a better strategy, or should these roles remain solely human? These were just some of the thought-provoking questions explored at our latest roundtable event hosted by RISE Israel, where professionals from both the private and public sectors came together for an engaging and meaningful discussion.

As part of the #AIForward Initiative, supported by Google.org, we are dedicated to leveraging AI to tackle societal challenges. The legal system, in particular, holds immense potential for transformation through AI – streamlining decision-making, reducing case backlogs, and making legal services more accessible and affordable. At the core of the event were collaborative roundtable discussions, where participants examined the opportunities and challenges posed by AI in the justice system. Together, they brainstormed actionable solutions to ensure that AI applications in the legal sector uphold fairness, transparency, and equal access to justice.

This event marks the beginning of our journey to drive innovation in Legal-Tech and foster the integration of AI in Israel. Together, we’re working toward a future where the legal system is not only more efficient but also more inclusive and equitable for all.

Photos by: Noy Naftali

How does the Israeli high-tech industry look one year after the “Iron Swords” outbreak? This was the focus of our webinar, held following the publication of our comprehensive report on the war’s impact on the industry.

The event was led by RISE Israel CEO Uri Gabai, Chief Economist Dr. Assaf Patir, and IATI CEO and President Karin Meir Rubinstein. The participants discussed the challenges and essential steps for maintaining industry stability. The webinar included an in-depth discussion with Dov Moran, Managing Partner at Grove-Ventures, and Adv. Dan Shamgar, Partner at Meitar and Chairman of IATI’s Lawyers and Accountants Committee, contributed valuable insights from their experience.

Thank you to all the participants who took part in this important discussion.

Watch the webinar recording

The global population is aging, impacting economies worldwide as life expectancy rises and the dependency ratio increases. Alongside these economic shifts, healthcare and welfare systems face mounting pressures. In Israel, as in other parts of the world, healthcare and welfare systems for the elderly are already strained, and this pressure is expected to grow. Could AI be the game changer we need?

As part of the #AIForward Initiative, supported by Google.org, we are making a concerted effort to leverage artificial intelligence in addressing societal challenges, we see tremendous potential for AI to transform elderly care. AI can alleviate overstressed systems, enhance the quality of care, and deliver personalized solutions that meet the unique needs of aging populations. By harnessing AI, we can create a sustainable model for elderly care, addressing both current limitations and future demands.

At the RISE Institute office, we brought together government and policy leaders, aging and geriatrics organizations, and experts in innovation and gerontology. Together, we shared preliminary insights from AIForward research on integrating AI into elderly care and gathered leading minds to explore this critical topic.

The roundtable emphasized that AI and GenAI in particular is not just another technological tool; it is an enabler of profound change for the future of aging. Through strategic collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and AI innovation, we can be on the path to shaping lasting solutions for the elderly.

The integration of emerging technologies and recent developments in artificial intelligence can dramatically transform the justice system – from enhancing legal professionals’ work and supporting judicial decision-making to streamlining court processes and making legal services more accessible and affordable for citizens. However, alongside these benefits, significant concerns are also emerging.

What is the optimal approach for implementing innovation in Israel’s legal services? This was the focus of our professional workshop “Israeli Legal-Tech Innovation,” which we led in collaboration with professional stakeholders from the Ministry of Justice, the National Digital Agency, and Deloitte Consulting.

RISE Institute’s Head of Policy and Regulation, Adv. Gaya Harari Heit, opened with an analysis of Israel’s potential in this field, addressing barriers and policy recommendations. The workshop featured fascinating overviews by Elad Rosenthal, Deputy Director General for Policy Planning and Strategy at the Ministry of Justice, Guy Itingon, Chief Digital Officer (CDO) at the Ministry of Justice, and Hila Halili, Head of Customer Strategy at Deloitte Digital. The workshop culminated in focused discussions among dozens of Israel’s most relevant stakeholders, addressing challenges and potential solutions.

This marks just the beginning of our significant work in advancing Legal-Tech in Israel. We will continue to collaborate with government ministries to create an innovative future for the legal world.

SNPI played a significant role at the OECD Global Forum on Technology’s event, which brought together high-level leadership, technology, and policy experts, collectively exploring the challenges shaping our technological future.

Our Chairman, Prof. Eugene Kandel, delivered a keynote address on shaping innovation ecosystems. Drawing insights from Israel’s experience as a global leader in innovation, he emphasized the need for a groundbreaking vision and a long-term smart policy, the pivotal role of public-private partnerships, and strategies to navigate both local and global challenges.

In these difficult times, the importance of international collaboration and cross-sector dialogue cannot be overstated. It’s noteworthy that the event was originally planned to be hosted in Israel, jointly led by the OECD, SNPI, and our partners the Israel Innovation Authority and the Israel National Digital Agency. However, in light of the brutal attack of October 7, it took place virtually.

We express gratitude for the opportunity to share our insights and experiences with the global community. By fostering collaboration and leveraging collective expertise, we can forge a brighter future for all.

Our CEO Uri Gabai and Senior Policy Fellow Danny Biran had the honor of presenting the Israeli innovation model and its ecosystem development over the last decades, to the President of Zambia Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, accompanied by Minister of Science and Technology Mr. Felix Mutati, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Stanley Kakubo, together with Ambassador of Israel to the Republic of Zambia Ms. Ofra Farhi and a delegation of prominent Zambian officials and private sector leaders.

The meeting was highly insightful, and as reported by Lusaka Times, the President expressed that “Zambia has drawn a lot of lessons from Israel through a presentation by Start-up Nation Policy Institute on the need to incorporate technology and allow the private sector to participate in the economic development of the country”.

Excited to see Zambia’s interest in strengthening its innovation ecosystem, we at SNPI believe in the power of collaboration and knowledge sharing. Israeli experience can inspire Zambia’s ambitious journey toward innovation-driven growth.

A New Era of Data Flows.

SNPI hosted a special conference that focused on the evolving landscape of global data protection. Alongside our partners – Israel Tech Policy Institute, Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co., and the U.S. Commercial Service Israel – we explored the groundbreaking CBPR system. This event served as a unique platform for connecting with stakeholders worldwide and staying informed about the latest cross-border data privacy protection developments.

Assaf Patir, our chief economist, introduced the CBPR system and presented our latest report, which examines Israel and the Global Cross-Border Privacy Rules. Two captivating panels followed: The first panel focused on US data protection compliance and emerging enforcement priorities. The second panel revolved around trusted data flows and the CBPR framework.

When so much data is shared and transferred across borders every day – safeguarding personal information is becoming increasingly important.

The WOMEN IN TECH – Global Movement Summit brought together over 400 women from 50 countries in Paris to discuss the most pressing technological issues and to encourage women to pursue STEM careers. This event was a celebration of women’s achievements and contributions to the technology industry.

Yam Atir, our VP of Strategy and Policy, focused on the important topic: AI Ethics and Policy Making. She revealed the key element of Israel’s remarkable technological success: the cooperation between the public and private sectors. “Technology is a flowing river – it cannot be stopped, but it must be directed,” she said.

This insight sparked a passionate debate about the importance of cross-sector collaborations in realizing the full potential of revolutionary technologies like AI.

The ICI-SNPI Innovation Conference, in partnership with Crown Family Israel Center for Innovation (ICI), was a two-day event that brought together dozens of academics from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, for workshops and lectures on innovation.

The conference featured valuable insights from our leading team, alongside experts from Harvard University, Yale University, UCLA, MIT, London School of Economics, and more.

They included talks and workshops on the success of the Israeli high-tech industry, emphasizing the critical role of government support. As innovation leaders, we were proud to share our knowledge and experience, exchange ideas, and contribute to the development of innovation policy beyond Israel.

Photos: Vered Farkash

SNPI Chairman Prof. Eugene Kandel, CEO Uri Gabai, and Chief Economist Dr. Assaf Patir, along with representatives from the Israel Innovation Authority – presented an updated review of the current state of the Israeli high-tech industry.

We discussed trends in investment and employment in the Israeli hi-tech industry, our future outlook, and the implications for the Israeli economy.

In a joint conference with the Israeli Innovation Authority, we launched the Human Capital Report 2022-2023. The conference explored the latest industry trends and proposed essential policy measures to support the driving force of Israel’s economy.

SNPI CEO Uri Gabai presented the key findings from the report, while the Institute’s Senior Researcher for Human Capital, Einav Ehrlich, led a panel discussion on the challenges facing the high-tech sector and strategies for addressing them.

Photo: Dan Miller, DHM Studio