Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a groundbreaking technology, but its development has spanned years. Israeli and Jewish innovators have played a crucial role in shaping this field, making significant contributions to its advancement.
One such notable player is Mobileye, Israel’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Founded in 1999, Mobileye has been at the forefront of AI research in computer vision, contributing to its scaling. Professor Amnon Shashua, the company’s founder, is widely acknowledged as the father of AI in Israel. He completed his studies at MIT before returning to Israel and establishing Mobileye.
Kira Radinsky is another prominent figure known for her work in predictive AI. She gained expertise in machine learning during her tenure at Microsoft and contributed to the prediction of cholera outbreaks. Radinsky later founded SalesPredict, which was acquired by eBay. Presently, she leads her own startup, Diagnostic Robotics.
Leading academics from Israel have also made significant contributions to the field. Professors Lior Wolf from Tel Aviv University, Ido Dagan from Bar-Ilan University, and Nir Friedman from Hebrew University pursued advanced studies and research abroad before returning to Israel. Their expertise and research have been instrumental in shaping AI applications.
Furthermore, collaboration between academia and industry plays a vital role in the AI field. Companies often rely on academic experts, while academics are drawn to the commercial sector for access to advanced resources. These pioneers have managed to strike a balance between their academic positions and their involvement in startups and other ventures.
For instance, Kira Radinsky refined her skills at Microsoft while pursuing her PhD and now leads her own startup, Diagnostic Robotics. Amnon Shashua is actively involved in Mobileye and AI21Labs, the developer of Wordtune – an AI-driven writing tool. Lior Wolf is part of Mentee Robotics, a company focused on AI-driven robots. Nir Friedman co-founded Senseera, a medical technology company. These individuals have not only excelled in academia but have successfully ventured into entrepreneurial endeavors.
Thanks to these Israeli and Jewish pioneers, Israel has positioned itself as a global leader in the field of AI. Their dedication and contributions have paved the way for groundbreaking advancements in artificial intelligence technology.