Yigal Unna, former Director General of the Israel National Cyber Directorate, said today (Tuesday) at the Makor Rishon and Lev Academic Center conference that the IDF ranks among the world’s top ten militaries in its use of artificial intelligence for defense purposes.
He noted that the combination of advanced technology and high-quality personnel gives Israel a clear edge—but he warned against complacency:
“We must not underestimate Iran’s capabilities. It possesses a strategic understanding, is allocating significant resources, and is building a technological infrastructure that could become a real challenge.”
AI Enhances Human Performance—But Brings Challenges Too
Unna added that Iran is not the only one investing in this space—other countries with indirect friction with Israel are also advancing rapidly. Precisely because Israel is at the forefront, he stressed the need to stay updated and avoid over-reliance:
“AI enhances human performance, but it also comes with problems—such as false alarms or malfunctions based on incorrect data. We’ve already encountered cases built on findings that ‘never existed,’ simply because the AI presented them as facts.”
A Surge in Defense Innovation
Brigadier General Erez Eshel, head of the IDF’s Digital Transformation Administration, joined the panel and emphasized:
“You can’t rely 100 percent on artificial intelligence. The military is a system built on decisive, binary decisions—do or don’t do—so implementation must be accurate and grounded.”
Nevertheless, he highlighted that since October 7, there has been an unprecedented surge in defense innovation:
“Our smartest young minds are developing technologies that rival those of any organization worldwide. Every Israeli company I know has mobilized to support national security—and it’s been incredibly moving.”
David Karl, founder of Algolight, concluded with a look ahead:
“By 2040, every military unit will have its own digital agent. These agents will communicate with each other, make joint decisions, and accelerate the entire combat process. The AI revolution will redefine the nature of warfare—and we’re just at the beginning.”
