Israel and the future of Artificial Intelligence

It was a long journey from Dachau to Tel Aviv in the winter of 2009. I was working for Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart then and was much shocked after my visit to this concentration camp, such that I quit food for a almost a week. Places like Dachau prove that we humans are mediocre and cruel. That’s when I read more about history, only to learn that education alone doesn’t help mankind to become better humans; much more efforts are required at home, in schools and colleges.

I boarded an EL AL flight en route to Tel Aviv where I waited at the Ben Gurion International Airport for the connecting EL AL flight to Mumbai. The food was so delicious and the air-hostess so pretty, that till date I felt as if I should always fly with EL AL. I was reading a German newsletter which I purchased in Germany. This newsletter praised Israel for its contribution to the evolution of Artificial Intelligence. This was my first introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI). Let’s not forget Germany has done a LOT to rebuild Israel as a tribute to correct those atrocities committed in the past.

As I was reading, I realised that AI is the future. Countless start-ups have sprouted up all over the world in the last few years. Global AI market now exceeds a billion dollars and the tech giants are racing to acquire them as they are re-positioning themselves as AI companies first.

One of the finest orators of our time, a leader who has always supported reforms and the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu spoke about innovation at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He said “The future belongs to those who innovate“. This is the truth. Countries which evolve and develop will be the countries that progress. Others will fail to exist. They will perish.

It’s imminent to direct AI in a way that’s beneficial to mankind. We have reached a stage where wars are ruled out, if we are to survive. We need lesser humans and a better quality of life. This is much important to us than never before. Thus AI will find its home in Farming, Medicine, Security, Defence, Animal Welfare, Creation and Sustenance of Plant life and Water Kingdom apart from the Core Commercial Technology.

As Prof. Josh Zeevi, the founder of Cortica says, “There is no objective reason why computers should not do better than the human brain. Although no one is there yet, Cortica will get there.” Israel today is home to more than 50 huge setups in AI that include Voyager Labs, Anodot, Beyond Verbal, Orcam, Innoviz Technologies and Windward. Porsche is establishing a “centre of innovation for AI” in Israel, and investing eight figures in the effort, the German sports car manufacturer believes that autonomous cars are not a dream anymore. It’s not a matter of IF, it’s a matter of WHEN.

AI as we see it today, is hardly in its pregnancy stage. We are yet to see things. AI is being deployed in countless applications but there’s much scope for improvisation, in my opinion. We can do a lot more with Internet of Things (IOT) and AI. All we need is Ideas and a mind that drives this revolution. It is very important that such developments are much controlled and sensibly promoted. The scope is endless. Recently an AI system designed by researchers at the University of Cambridge was able to detect pain levels in sheep, which could aid in early diagnosis and treatment of common, but painful, conditions in animals. AI will guide farmers, police, doctors, engineers, animals and even marine life. If used in the right way, promoted in the right direction, AI will create a better world for everyone.