Elon Musk accepted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's invitation to visit Israel in March for a Smart Transportation Conference, according to statements from Netanyahu's office.
The Tesla CEO participated in a conference call with Netanyahu on Sunday while the prime minister was in Florida. Transportation Minister Miri Regev and National AI Directorate head Erez Askal also joined the discussion, which focused on artificial intelligence development and autonomous vehicle legislation.
Netanyahu told Musk Israel aims to become a global leader in AI, mirroring its previous success in cybersecurity. "We intend to propel Israel forward and turn it into a global leader in the field, just as we did in cyber and other technologies," Netanyahu said according to his office's statement.
The meeting covered ongoing cooperation with Tesla and efforts to advance Israeli legislation governing autonomous vehicles. Musk's planned March visit comes as Israel faces international scrutiny over its military operations in Gaza that began in October 2023.
Prime Minister Netanyahu faces International Criminal Court arrest warrants issued in November 2024 for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, charges he denies. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties and destruction in Gaza, with multiple ceasefires being implemented and broken since the war began in October 2023.
Israel has been using AI in military operations through systems like Gospel and Habsora, which analyze surveillance data and identify potential targets. These tools enable the Israel Defense Forces to process targets at an accelerated rate, with former IDF head Aviv Kochavi stating the system generated 100 targets a day during the 2021 conflict, though critics raise ethical concerns about civilian safety.
The Smart Transportation Conference represents Israel's push to integrate AI and cutting-edge technologies into its transportation and industrial sectors. Netanyahu's office emphasized that fostering AI development is part of Israel's broader goal to become a global hub for emerging technologies.
Musk's engagement with Israeli leadership occurs ahead of Netanyahu's upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump. The two leaders previously debated AI ethics at a Tesla factory panel in California in September 2023.
With high-profile partnerships and growing focus on AI regulation, Israel aims to position itself at the forefront of the AI revolution. Experts note the country's history of innovation in cybersecurity and technology could give it a competitive edge as nations worldwide race to dominate artificial intelligence.
