Netanyahu and Elon Musk Discuss AI and Transportation Collaboration

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and tech magnate Elon Musk held a high-level conference call on Sunday to discuss the future of artificial intelligence and smart transportation in Israel. Also joining the call were Transportation Minister Miri Regev and Erez Eskel, head of Israel’s National AI Directorate, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.

The conversation centered on Israel’s ambition to become a world leader in AI innovation, mirroring its global stature in cybersecurity and other advanced technologies. “We want to catapult Israel forward and turn it into a global leader in the field,” Netanyahu said, reinforcing the country’s strategic commitment to developing responsible and cutting-edge artificial intelligence capabilities.

The leaders also discussed ongoing cooperation between Israel and Tesla, including efforts to support legislation on autonomous vehicles an area where Israel is increasingly seen as a key global testing ground for advanced mobility solutions.

As part of the call, Musk accepted Netanyahu and Regev’s invitation to participate in the Smart Transportation Conference in Israel, scheduled for March 2026. His attendance is expected to draw significant international attention to Israel’s innovation ecosystem and its growing influence in the fields of mobility and AI.

The dialogue comes at a time when Musk has faced criticism for recent comments on his social media platform, X, including controversial posts about race and demography. Nonetheless, Israel appears focused on building strategic tech ties, emphasizing the long-term opportunities that cooperation with global industry leaders like Musk can bring.

Israel’s innovation model built on a powerful combination of defense-driven R&D, a dynamic startup culture, and robust academic research positions it uniquely to shape the future of artificial intelligence. Collaborations with figures like Musk offer both technological opportunities and strategic visibility.

As the global AI race accelerates, Israel is not just watching from the sidelines it’s taking bold steps to shape the future.

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