Erez Askal Reportedly Outlines Israel’s 300,000-GPU AI Target

Erez Askal, head of the National AI Directorate in the Prime Minister’s Office, reportedly outlined a goal of building domestic computing capacity of about 300,000 graphics processing units, or GPUs, in a speech at Tel Aviv University on November 9. His presentation at AI & Cyber Week also covered a locally developed foundation model and training people to work with artificial intelligence. According to the report, Askal divided the computing target into about 100,000 GPUs for universities, government, defense and startups, and another 200,000 for technology companies and data centers. He put the associated electricity requirement at roughly two gigawatts, covering AI infrastructure, data centers and semiconductor manufacturing. Askal warned that essential services such as energy, water and healthcare would increasingly depend on AI within five to seven years. He advocated maintaining Israeli control over critical technology alongside international cooperation. He said dependence on models hosted abroad complicates deployment within Israel and the protection of sensitive information. The presentation also addressed practical uses of AI in healthcare, education and transportation, as well as workforce training. Askal discussed an Israeli quantum-computer tender and the National Institute for Impact-Driven AI as part of the country’s technology strategy.