Israeli Academia is Shaping AI’s Impact, Not Just Its Capabilities
Published by blogs.timesofisrael.com on February 5, 2026.
While our understanding of artificial intelligence’s exact impact on society remains incomplete, its potential to touch every sector of our lives is well known and highly promising for science and scientific discoveries. However, we are at a critical juncture where we must answer lingering concerns and questions surrounding AI’s influence on society before continuing to scale its power. What kinds of data should AI models be able to access? Is AI safe to use in healthcare? Will AI eliminate much-needed jobs?
Ultimately, what does it look like to develop and use AI technology responsibly and ethically? We acknowledge that we failed to anticipate the deeply polarizing impact and societal consequences of social media – we have an opportunity to do better with AI.
As a global leader in AI innovation and talent, Israel has an opportunity to be a model for the rest of the world demonstrating how we should grapple with these questions. Those who understand the technology most acutely must also provide guidance and guardrails to ensure that AI will only ever be a positive influence on humankind.
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This piece is an op-ed from ATS CEO Michael Waxman-Lenz.
