Prof. Ami Moyal is the President of Afeka College of Engineering and the newly elected Chairman of the Israeli Council for Greater Schooling’s Planning & Budgeting Committee. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical & Laptop Engineering from Ben-Gurion College and is an knowledgeable in automated speech recognition. Earlier than changing into Afeka’s President in 2014, he based the Afeka Middle for Language Processing and led the College of Electrical Engineering. As President, he’s devoted to remodeling engineering schooling by implementing curriculum reforms, progressive pedagogy, {industry} collaborations, and restructured studying environments to reinforce graduates’ workforce readiness whereas fostering a tradition of excellence and pleasure in studying.
Together with your intensive background in each academia and {industry}—having led Afeka Faculty of Engineering and beforehand serving as CEO of Pure Speech Communication—how have you ever seen Israel’s AI panorama evolve over time, and what key shifts stand out to you in the present day?
All through my profession in high-tech and academia I’ve witnessed a outstanding transformation in Israel’s AI panorama. Within the early 2000s after I led a speech recognition firm, AI applied sciences have been centered on particular know-how functions like speech recognition and laptop imaginative and prescient, largely invisible to most of the people.
In the present day, AI has moved from specialised functions to changing into foundational throughout nearly each sector. Essentially the most vital shift has been the democratization of AI instruments. After we developed speech recognition know-how, these programs required vital experience and sources in growth and utilization was modest. Now, with instruments like ChatGPT, AI capabilities are accessible to almost everybody.
From my present place main an engineering school, I see AI reshaping academic processes, in addition to analysis and work processes. We’re shifting past merely instructing AI to integrating AI-powered instruments into how we educate all topics, whereas making ready college students for an AI-augmented office. The main focus has shifted from merely imparting data to creating vital competencies – an umbrella time period for data, expertise and values.
As AI handles extra routine duties, distinctly human talents like vital considering, creativity, moral judgment, and interpersonal expertise have gotten more and more worthwhile. This represents maybe probably the most profound shift: recognizing that as AI capabilities develop, human expertise turn out to be extra, not much less, important.
Given your expertise main each a speech recognition firm and a tutorial establishment, what synergies do you see between academia and {industry} in accelerating AI innovation in Israel?
Having labored on the intersection of academia and {industry}, I’ve noticed a number of highly effective connections that may speed up AI innovation.
First, there is a useful cycle of expertise growth and data switch between academia and {industry}. At Afeka for instance, we educate college students with cutting-edge AI expertise who then be a part of {industry}, whereas {industry} professionals usually be a part of as adjunct college, bringing sensible insights that preserve our curriculum and academic course of related and up to date.
Second, collaborative analysis initiatives between academia and {industry} speed up innovation. Throughout my time in speech recognition know-how, we participated in worldwide analysis partnerships alongside tutorial establishments. This expertise knowledgeable my method when establishing the Afeka Middle for Language Processing, the place we performed utilized analysis tasks with {industry} companions by way of joint funding mechanisms that foster academia-industry collaborations.
Particularly, within the AI area, apart from expertise we want large-scale databases and large computing energy. Academia-industry cooperation relating to these vital wants can positively speed up the usage of AI and innovation.
In the present day we’re seeing how these relationships are evolving with the democratization of AI instruments. Essentially the most profitable AI improvements in Israel emerge when tutorial excellence meets entrepreneurial problem-solving. As AI continues to remodel industries, strengthening these connections will probably be important for sustaining Israel’s aggressive edge.
How has DeepSeek’s latest breakthrough—proving that cutting-edge AI may be developed with out billion-dollar budgets—modified the aggressive panorama for Israeli startups?
DeepSeek’s answer reinforces what I’ve at all times believed: ingenuity can usually outweigh monetary energy. This is a crucial reinforcement of Israel’s aggressive benefit which has at all times been its high-quality human useful resource pool. When innovation relies upon extra on mental capital than monetary capital, Israel’s distinctive expertise pool turns into much more worthwhile.
Examples like DeepSeek reveal that Israeli startups can take part in foundational mannequin growth slightly than being restricted to constructing functions on current platforms. This opens alternatives for startups to create specialised AI options in industries the place Israel already has robust area experience—corresponding to cybersecurity, healthcare, and agricultural know-how.
That stated, creating superior AI fashions nonetheless requires substantial experience and sources. The barrier has been lowered, not eradicated. From an academic perspective, this highlights the significance of instructing not simply AI fundamentals but in addition ideas of environment friendly implementation.
Israel has a protracted historical past of technological innovation. What distinctive components inside Israel’s startup ecosystem allow AI and tech firms to turn out to be so profitable?
Israel’s success in technological innovation stems from a singular mixture of things which have created the “Startup Nation” phenomenon.
First is Israel’s distinctive human capital. Navy service usually supplies worthwhile technical coaching, but it surely additionally develops resilience, management, teamwork, and strategic considering. By school, Israelis are already ready for challenges with a maturity that enhances their potential to succeed.
Our cultural mindset is one other essential issue. Israel has at all times confronted advanced challenges with restricted sources, fostering a tradition that values resourcefulness, adaptability, and artistic problem-solving—what we name “chutzpah.” Failure is usually seen as a stepping stone slightly than a setback.
Moreover, our small geographical dimension creates distinctive networking alternatives. With quick distances between tutorial establishments, tech hubs, and funding facilities, relationships kind simply. In Israel, in case you do not personally know somebody, you positively know somebody who is aware of them. This close-knit setting permits concepts and experience to flow into effectively all through our innovation ecosystem, accelerating collaboration and growth.
Lastly, as a result of our small home market, Israeli startups assume globally from day one, designing options for worldwide markets. This world mindset encourages formidable considering and options that deal with common challenges.
With many reservists getting back from navy service, how do you see battlefield innovation influencing the following wave of AI startups in Israel?
At Afeka alone, over 44% of our pupil physique was known as up for reserve responsibility in the course of the latest battle. Whereas difficult, this example presents distinctive alternatives for Israel’s future in technological innovation that can affect the following wave of AI startups:
Battlefield expertise has strengthened the significance of AI programs which are each sturdy and resilient, whereas fixing real-life issues with rapid affect. When lives depend upon know-how functioning appropriately below unpredictable circumstances, it creates a completely totally different commonplace for reliability and transparency.
I additionally anticipate innovation in human-AI collaboration. In high-pressure situations, the connection between human operators and AI programs turns into vital—understanding when to belief automated suggestions versus when human judgment ought to prevail.
Nevertheless, for this innovation potential to be realized, it’s vital that these reservists full their levels. At Afeka, we have carried out complete help for returning reservists to make sure they’ll full their schooling on time.
What are some standout Israeli AI startups that you just imagine will make a worldwide affect within the subsequent few years?
Whereas I do not carefully monitor particular startups, I can spotlight a number of areas the place Israeli AI firms are positioned to make vital world affect, particularly in gentle of the present circumstances: Cybersecurity, constructing on Israel’s well-established experience on this area; Healthcare and medical know-how, the place Israeli startups are making use of AI to remodel diagnostics and remedy, with a latest give attention to emergency medication; Protection and homeland safety functions, leveraging operational expertise to create more practical programs.
Nevertheless, what distinguishes probably the most promising Israeli AI startups is not simply their technical capabilities however their give attention to fixing significant issues with clear societal affect.
It is also vital for educational institutes to be agile and keep open dialogue with {industry} to pay attention to rising traits and replace curricula accordingly. In anticipation of the expansion in AI applied sciences, Afeka established a brand new College of Information Science and Clever Programs to arrange graduates with the specialised expertise wanted for the AI-driven financial system.
Afeka Faculty lately conducted a study highlighting AI proficiency as probably the most sought-after talent in Israel’s high-tech sector. Had been there any key findings that stood out to you, and the way is Afeka adapting its curriculum to arrange college students for this AI-driven job market?
Our annual Expertise Index survey revealed an attention-grabbing paradox in Israel’s high-tech sector. Whereas 55% of high-tech managers recognized AI proficiency as their high private growth precedence, solely 7-9% at present contemplate it important when hiring new staff. This means we’re in a transitional interval the place AI adoption is primarily pushed by particular person initiative slightly than structured organizational methods.
AI is not confined to specialised roles—it is changing into a basic competency throughout nearly all high-tech positions. But organizations are nonetheless determining methods to formalize these necessities.
On the similar time, conventional engineering expertise are nonetheless extremely valued. For top-tech positions, the flexibility to work independently topped the record (61%), adopted by problem-solving capabilities and self-directed studying.
At Afeka, we’re taking motion in two methods. We’re encouraging college to include AI ideas and instruments into their programs, whereas strengthening our give attention to foundational expertise that employers constantly worth.
Some programs, for instance, have been utterly redesigned. In our Language Processing course, college students not write fundamental code that AI can simply generate. As a substitute, they take AI-generated code to extra subtle ranges, making use of it to resolve advanced issues whereas creating a vital understanding of the know-how’s limitations.
Our College of Information Science and AI addresses specialised schooling, however we acknowledge that every one engineers want familiarity with AI no matter their specialization.
Past technical AI expertise, what different competencies (e.g., vital considering, management, communication) are important for professionals working in an AI-powered financial system?
As AI capabilities develop, distinctly human talents turn out to be extra worthwhile, not much less.
Essential considering is maybe probably the most important talent in an AI-powered financial system. When working with programs that may generate convincing however probably flawed outputs, professionals have to fastidiously consider info, determine inconsistencies, and validate outcomes in opposition to real-world data.
Moreover, whereas AI is nice at sample recognition and optimization inside outlined parameters, breakthrough improvements usually require artistic “out-of-the-box” considering that helps envision novel functions and approaches that AI would not generate independently.
Communication can also be an vital talent. Engineers are not confined to creating algorithms, they have to clarify the potential, capabilities and limitations of the applied sciences they develop successfully, precisely and persuasively, usually to non-technical decision-makers.
With the accelerating tempo of technological change, engineers have to constantly replace their understanding. This has additionally elevated the significance of self-directed studying.
Collaboration throughout disciplines has additionally turn out to be more and more essential as AI functions span conventional boundaries. Engineers have to work successfully with area consultants, enterprise strategists, and designers, integrating various insights to develop complete options.
The moral dimensions of AI growth add one other crucial competency. Engineers should contemplate the implications of their work on society, on folks, on the setting, and so on. determine potential biases, and make accountable design selections.
How do you see the position of engineering schooling evolving to make sure Israel stays a pacesetter in AI innovation?
Competencies corresponding to—vital considering, creativity, communication, teamwork, self-directed studying and moral judgment—should turn out to be central to engineering schooling if Israel is to take care of its management in AI innovation. This requires a basic transformation in how we put together engineers for the workforce.
At Afeka, we have pioneered a competency-based academic mannequin that begins by defining the “graduate profile”—the whole set of data, skilled expertise, private expertise and values engineers want within the trendy office. This profile serves as our compass, guiding all facets of the tutorial expertise towards creating these competencies in our college students.
All components of the graduate profile, together with private expertise have been included as studying outcomes of our curricula by way of a gradual course of of accelerating proficiency. We map how every course contributes to constructing these competencies, making a cohesive studying journey that culminates in graduates who possess each technical experience and the private expertise wanted for skilled success.
This method represents a shift from data switch to competency growth. Whereas technical data and expertise stay important, the flexibility to use that data in advanced, real-world situations is what really differentiates profitable engineers. We have moved past conventional lecture codecs to include extra project-based studying, {industry} collaborations, and interdisciplinary challenges that develop problem-solving talents alongside technical expertise.
The Afeka Framework for STEM Education, which we have developed primarily based on our expertise reworking engineering schooling, affords a technique that may be utilized throughout the tutorial continuum. By defining graduate profiles at every academic stage and aligning studying experiences accordingly, we are able to strengthen Israel’s human capital pipeline from Pre-Ok by way of skilled growth.
What traits do you anticipate shaping Israel’s AI {industry} in 2025 and past?
The democratization of AI growth and utilization will proceed, enabling smaller groups to create subtle options with out large budgets. This development performs to Israel’s conventional benefits in agility and artistic problem-solving. Our innovation ecosystem thrives on small, agile groups tackling particular challenges—precisely the setting the place these extra accessible AI growth approaches can flourish.
I anticipate the battlefield improvements rising from our present battle will affect the following wave of AI startups in Israel. As I discussed earlier, the expertise of creating know-how below excessive circumstances creates a singular perspective on necessities like robustness, reliability, and human-AI collaboration.
The expertise panorama will evolve considerably as nicely. Whereas demand for AI experience will intensify, the definition of that experience will broaden past specialised researchers to incorporate area consultants who can successfully apply AI of their fields. This shift aligns with the hole we recognized in our Expertise Index between managers’ rising curiosity in AI and present hiring practices—we’re witnessing the start of a extra complete integration of AI throughout skilled roles.
Lastly, I anticipate AI to play an more and more central position in nationwide resilience. The latest battle has highlighted the vital significance of technological capabilities and the necessity for optimum stability between people and AI in making certain safety and sustaining important providers. We’ll possible see larger funding in AI functions that improve infrastructure safety, emergency response, and demanding programs.
Success will depend upon our potential to adapt our academic programs, keep our entrepreneurial tradition, and proceed creating the human capital that has at all times been Israel’s best useful resource.