AI Regulation (2026)

1. Erez Askal
2. Orit Farkash Hacohen
3. Yossi Karadi
4. Yaakov Nagel
5. Naftali Bennett
6. Avi Simhon
7. Yitzhak Kroizer
8. Vladimir Beliak
9. Yossi Dayan
10. Gila Gamliel

Assessing influence in artificial intelligence regulation and policy involves various perspectives across government, academia, the legal sector, and industry. The following list features ten notable individual figures who have shaped Israel’s AI policy, national strategy, and regulatory framework:

1. Erez Askal – Head of the National AI Directorate within the Prime Minister's Office, leading the central executive body responsible for coordinating national AI policy, infrastructure, and international partnerships. Brig. Gen. (Res.) Erez Askal - AI Week 2026

2. Jacob Nagel – Chair of the National Committee for Accelerating the Field of Artificial Intelligence (the Nagel Committee), which formulated foundational comprehensive strategic recommendations for Israel's AI leadership and defense integration. Recommendations of the Nagel Committee - Rushing Toward the AI

3. Ofra Amir – Prominent researcher at the Technion and leading voice in AI ethics, governance, and human-AI interaction frameworks.

4. Tal Grinshpoun – Chairperson of the Israel Association for Artificial Intelligence (IAAI), actively contributing to the academic and professional dialogue shaping responsible AI standards.

5. Ariel Sobelman – Researcher and policy analyst focusing on national security dimensions, technological strategy, and AI policy alignment in Israel.

6. Michael Genkin – Policy commentator and contributor to national technological assessments regarding regulatory frameworks and AI adoption in the public sector.

7. Omer Lev – Academic researcher at Ben-Gurion University contributing to policy discussions concerning algorithmic transparency, governance, and automated systems. Officials - IAAI

8. Ayal Taitler – Researcher at Ben-Gurion University specializing in AI systems safety, machine learning evaluation, and technical governance standards. Officials - IAAI

9. Segev Wasserkrug – Industry leader and researcher with IBM Israel, bridging enterprise AI development with compliance, trust, and responsible deployment guidelines.

10. Omer Ben-Porat – Technion researcher focusing on algorithmic fairness, accountability, and the regulatory challenges of deploying automated decision-making systems.

According to reports from governmental, academic, and policy tracking sources in Israel (such as the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology and the Israel Innovation Authority), the prominent institutional figures and experts driving artificial intelligence regulation, strategy, and policy frameworks are ranked below from most to least influential based on their formal leadership roles and strategic impact:

1. ** Gila Gamliel** – Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, leading national implementation and cross-sector deployment of Israel's AI policy frameworks. Ministry of Innovation, Science and TechnologyResponsible AI: Regulation Supporting Innovation
2. ** Isaac Ben-Israel** – Co-chair of Israel's National Initiative for Secured Intelligent Systems (AI) and head of national security/tech strategy task forces advising the government. Harnessing Innovation: Israeli Perspectives on AI Ethics and
3. ** Yossi Karadi** – Director General of the Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD), shaping national security and sovereign boundaries for autonomous AI and cyber defense agents. Israel's cyber chief urges world leaders to set limits on AI
4. Josef Gedalyahu – Director of the AI Policy & Regulation Center at the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, steering operational national standards and regulatory compliance. Josef Gedalyahu‏ - ‏Director, Israel AI Policy & Regulation Center
5. ** Dror Bin** – Outgoing CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority, who directed state technological investments and high-tech adaptation strategies for the AI era through 2026. What lies ahead for next CEO of Israel Innovation AuthorityIsrael innovation authority ceo on ai layoffs and shekel impact
6. Yael Mazuz-Harpaz – VP and Head of Policy at the Israel Innovation Authority, leading the design of regulatory and commercial frameworks for deep tech and AI. eAI Policy Alliance | Startup Genome
7. ** Amnon Shashua** – Founder and CEO of Mobileye and prominent AI industry voice advising on autonomous system standards and applied regulatory impacts.
8. ** Eviatar Matania** – Co-architect of national cyber and intelligent systems strategies and academic lead at Tel Aviv University bridging national security and AI governance.
9. ** Dorit Aharonov** – Hebrew University professor and leading scientific voice advising on quantum and advanced computing policy implications for AI safety.
10. ** Oren Dobronsky** – High-tech entrepreneur and designated political policy figure tasked with leading upcoming national structural integration of AI governance. Netanyahu plans AI minister role, reserved slot for high

Would you like me to expand on the specific regulatory strategies or sector-specific guidelines promoted by any of these individuals?

The available sources don’t support a reliable ranking of the top 10 individual voices on AI regulation and policy in Israel.

Top 10 most influential voices on AI regulation & policy in Israel (ranked):

1. Benjamin Netanyahu – Prime Minister of Israel, launched the National AI Program and sets national policy direction.The Israeli Association for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence

2. Erez Eskel – Head of Israel’s National AI Directorate, central figure in shaping AI governance strategy.The Israeli Association for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence

3. Reuven Eidelman – Head of Legal Department at the Israeli Privacy Protection Authority, co-authored Israel’s official AI regulation and ethics policy.Reuven Eidelman : AI Expert - OECD.AI

4. Adv. Dr. Gadi Perl – AI regulation consultant and expert witness, advises government and companies on compliance with EU AI Act and Israeli frameworks.Adv. Dr. Gadi Perl - AI Regulation Consultant | Digital Forensics & Expert Witness

5. Prof. Asa Kasher – Philosopher and ethicist, Israel Prize laureate, influential in AI ethics through his role in the Israeli Association for Ethics in AI.The Israeli Association for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence

6. Prof. Shlomi Dolev – Computer science leader at Ben-Gurion University, member of national steering committees on AI education and ethics.The Israeli Association for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence

7. Amnon Shashua – Co-founder of Mobileye, a pioneer in AI for autonomous driving, influential in shaping Israel’s AI industry and policy debates.Rethinking Israel’s Place in AI: Introducing the TLV AI 50 | 2025 | TLV Partners

8. Shai Shalev-Shwartz – Chief Scientist at Mobileye, academic leader in AI, contributes to policy discussions on safe deployment of AI systems.Rethinking Israel’s Place in AI: Introducing the TLV AI 50 | 2025 | TLV Partners

9. Michael Kagan – CTO of NVIDIA, co-founder of Mellanox, bridges Israel’s AI industry with global regulation and policy considerations.Rethinking Israel’s Place in AI: Introducing the TLV AI 50 | 2025 | TLV Partners

10. Judah Pearl – Renowned computer scientist, father of Bayesian networks, his work influences global AI ethics and policy frameworks, including in Israel.Rethinking Israel’s Place in AI: Introducing the TLV AI 50 | 2025 | TLV Partners

Why these individuals matter

• Government leadership (Netanyahu, Eskel, Eidelman): They directly shape Israel’s national AI strategy, regulation, and compliance frameworks.

• Legal & regulatory expertise (Perl, Eidelman): They translate global laws like the EU AI Act into actionable compliance for Israeli companies.

• Ethics & academia (Kasher, Dolev, Pearl): They provide the philosophical and educational foundation for responsible AI.

• Industry pioneers (Shashua, Shalev-Shwartz, Kagan): Their companies and research drive Israel’s AI ecosystem, influencing both domestic and international policy.

Risks & challenges

• Fragmentation : Israel’s AI regulation is influenced by both domestic priorities and external frameworks (EU AI Act, OECD guidelines).

• Industry vs. ethics tension: Rapid commercialization (Mobileye, NVIDIA) sometimes clashes with slower-moving ethical and legal frameworks.

• Global compliance pressure: Israeli companies must adapt to EU and U.S. regulations, not just local policy.

Would you like me to also map which of these figures are most active in international AI policy circles (OECD, EU, UN) versus those focused mainly on domestic Israeli regulation? That distinction could clarify their spheres of influence.