Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Erez Askal Appointed Director of the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Directorate within the PMO

The prime minister‘s Office, this afternoon:

The Prime Minister’s Office announces the appointment of Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Erez Askal as Director of the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Directorate, which will be established within the Prime Minister’s Office.

The establishment of the Directorate, which has been led and initiated by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is intended to transform the State of Israel into a global AI superpower. The National Directorate will lead the formulation and implementation of the national strategy in the field, serving as a central arm for promoting innovation, regulation, infrastructure, and research, while strengthening Israel’s status in the international arena.

The Directorate will formulate the national plan for accelerating AI, while providing professional guidance and consultation to government ministries and auxiliary units on regulatory matters. The Directorate will also work to establish advanced infrastructure, including energy and research complexes for AI, and to advance ‘supercomputing’ capabilities under Israeli sovereignty.

The National Directorate will coordinate and promote international cooperation, as part of the effort to ensure Israel’s place at the global forefront of the AI field.

Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Erez Askal brings with him rich experience from the defense establishment, including as Head of the Digital Transformation Directorate in the C4I and Cyber Defense Directorate, Commander of the Visual Intelligence Unit 9900, and in intelligence roles in the Air Force and the Research Division of the Military Intelligence Directorate.