Prime Minister’s Office pushes for AI control amid concerns from National Security Council
Prime Minister’s Office pushes for AI control amid concerns from National Security Council
A proposal for a new AI directorate faces scrutiny, as some officials warn it could add unnecessary layers and weaken existing efforts.
The Director General of the Prime Minister's Office, Yossi Shelley, is pushing to establish a national directorate for artificial intelligence, despite opposition from several entities, including the National Security Council (NSC), Calcalist has learned. The new directorate would replace an existing one that is currently operating successfully.
At the beginning of the month, a discussion was held at the Prime Minister's Office, led by Shelley and attended by representatives from the Treasury, the Accountant General’s office, the NSC, the National Digital Agency, the Innovation Authority, the Ministry of Science, and the Ministry of Defense. Shelley concluded that, while significant work is already being done, there are certain areas where, in his view, a more substantial acceleration is needed. He also believes that the government lacks a senior body to oversee the broader strategy for artificial intelligence.
For the past three years, a directorate has been overseeing this field after the government allocated one billion shekels in two installments as part of a large-scale national AI program. This program, coordinated by officials who attended the recent meeting, has focused on developing research and national infrastructures in artificial intelligence and has achieved its targeted goals. Recently, it was announced that a new initiative is being launched, which includes establishing a national institute for artificial intelligence and investing in pioneering research projects.
In response to Shelley’s plan for an additional AI directorate, the NSC, which is part of the Prime Minister's Office, issued a letter warning against creating another administrative body in this field. In the letter, signed by a senior NSC official, it stated, "There is no need to establish another administrative body for artificial intelligence; the existing ones should be strengthened. In the current framework, adding more management is unnecessary and could be counterproductive."
Following the NSC’s letter, Shelley issued a widely circulated response, stating, "I am expected to explore the establishment of a national directorate for artificial intelligence within the Prime Minister's Office to coordinate all government activity on this matter." He also demanded that the NSC retract its letter. Some officials in the field expressed confusion to Calcalist over the proposal to create another administrative body, noting that, for the first time, they had successfully established a coordinating body that aligns all government agencies and is delivering tangible results, as Shelley himself acknowledged in the recent discussion. According to these sources, "the purpose of establishing this new body is mainly political, aimed at allowing the Prime Minister's Office to take control of an area currently led by professionals." No response was received from the Prime Minister's Office.
