Israel will launch a tender next month to establish the country’s first supercomputer, ensuring it remains a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Dror Bin, the chief executive of the state-backed Israel Innovation Authority, made the announcement on Wednesday at an AI conference.
Strategic Move to Secure AI Leadership
“AI has been a friend for Israel’s tech sector, but it could turn into a foe without action given AI is a fast-evolving technology,” Bin noted. The government has allocated $250 million for a national AI program that involves collaboration between the government, industry, and academia. This program will see 60% of its budget executed in 2024 and is expected to be completed by 2027, with the possibility of increased funding.
The Importance of AI to Israel’s Economy
Technology contributes to 20% of Israel’s economic output, making the country one of the largest tech hubs globally. Out of Israel’s 9,000 startups, more than 2,200 utilize AI, and Israel ranks third in the world with 73 generative AI firms.
“Our goal is to ensure Israel sustains its leadership, ranking, and position in the AI race globally,” Bin emphasized.
Need for a Supercomputer
A supercomputer dedicated to training large AI models is crucial for maintaining Israel’s competitive edge. Currently, companies and researchers must buy time in the cloud to train large models due to the lack of local data centers with sufficient GPUs (graphic processing units).
“When a high tech company or researcher wants to train a large model they have to buy time in the cloud since there is no local data center with a significant amount of GPUs that can train those models here,” Bin explained.
The new supercomputer will be accessible to researchers and companies at lower-than-market costs, significantly boosting local AI development and research capabilities.
Israel’s initiative to build its first supercomputer represents a significant step in maintaining its status as a global tech leader. By investing in advanced AI infrastructure, the country aims to support its thriving tech ecosystem and continue its legacy of innovation.
