Beyond Intelligence: President Herzog Launches a National Forum on Humanity and Society in the Age of AI
עודכן: 8 בנוב׳
The Office of the President and the National AI Directorate in the Prime Minister’s Office, in partnership with the Mosaic Institute for AI Policy, launch the Beyond Intelligence Forum, founded at President Herzog’s initiative. The inaugural session focused on economic and social resilience in the age of AI.
At the initiative of President Isaac Herzog, and in partnership with the National AI Directorate in the Prime Minister’s Office and the Mosaic Institute for AI Policy, the inaugural session of “Beyond Intelligence” — the President’s Forum on the Future of Humanity and Society in the Age of AI — took place at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem on November 3, 2026. The initiative reflects a shared commitment to preparing Israel for profound technological change and connecting technological leadership with the strength and resilience of society.
Led by the President’s Chief of Staff, Adaya Leibovich Tobe, the forum is designed to foster sustained national dialogue and develop core principles for addressing the changes and challenges posed by AI. Its first session focused on economic and social resilience: the future of employment, economic security, the relationship between work and income, shared prosperity, and fairness during the transition.
National leadership in a time of profound transformation
“It is clear to all of us that the world is undergoing a profound transformation. The world order is changing, technology is changing, and with it, humanity itself is changing,” President Herzog said.
“For the first time, we are encountering a tool with the potential to surpass our innate natural talents, and we are compelled to redefine our relationship to work, to learning, to education, to society, and to the very meaning of life.”
The President emphasized the importance of bringing diverse voices and perspectives into a setting where participants can challenge assumptions, ask questions, and disagree. The opening plenary also featured Adaya Leibovich Tobe; Civil Service Commissioner Doron Cohen; Erez Askal, Head of the National AI Directorate; and Daniel Schreiber, Chair of the Mosaic Institute. Dr. Tsuriel Rashi, who leads the Directorate’s work on ethics, moderated the plenary sessions.
“Israel will not stand on the sidelines or remain merely an AI user, but will be a leading force shaping the new world order,” said Erez Askal. His remarks placed the human and ethical dimensions of AI alongside Israel’s technological and strategic ambitions.
Daniel Schreiber, Mosaic’s Chair and Co-Founder and CEO of Lemonade, examined the economic and social implications of cognitive capabilities becoming widely available at declining cost. He explored the potential consequences for the relationship between employment, value creation, and the distribution of income, and asked participants to consider what Israel should aim to achieve by its centenary.
Bringing expertise and public responsibility together
The gathering’s breadth was central to its purpose. Researchers, entrepreneurs, technology executives, economists, legal scholars, senior public officials, education and healthcare leaders, labor and employer representatives, and leaders from civil society brought different forms of expertise and responsibility to a shared discussion.
The groups brought together representatives from government ministries and the National AI Directorate, social security and employment services, local government and the defense sector; universities and policy research institutes; and the worlds of technology, investment, healthcare, education, and social action. This composition connected the development and deployment of AI with the institutions and communities that will experience its consequences.
The exchange extended beyond any single profession or sector. It situated technological change within the wider context of life in Israel, including entry into professional careers, public services, employment relationships, families, and communities.
Seven groups, three core questions
Mosaic led the development of the inaugural session’s content and discussion methodology, including the preparation materials, participant questionnaire, and case studies. Seven facilitated groups explored three core issues: a dignified livelihood, growth and shared prosperity, and fairness in the transition.
The first round used fictional case studies to connect structural questions with individual circumstances, including entry into a profession, changes to a longstanding role, and declining income despite adopting AI tools. Each discussion expanded from an individual case to a sector or system, examining the actors involved, their interests, and the boundaries of responsibility.
In the second round, participants contributed possible directions for action, initiatives, and questions for further research and practical work. The structure encouraged rigorous discussion while preserving room for differences of opinion. Discussions were recorded and documented for internal use and the forum’s continuing work, without public attribution of participants’ views.
Shared foundations and questions for further work
In her initial synthesis, Mosaic CEO Efrat Behar-Netanel highlighted the need to connect individual adaptability with changes in institutions and systems. Different groups emphasized social safety nets and impacts on families and communities; work, income, and meaning; employer–employee relations; pathways into professions and training; and education and critical thinking.
A recurring theme was the need to prepare people and institutions for continuing change and to make the capabilities required for adaptation accessible to people from different backgrounds. Participants also examined the allocation of responsibility among individuals, employers, and the state. These were themes identified in the initial synthesis, rather than policy decisions or positions endorsed by every participant.
From an inaugural gathering to a sustained process
The first session established a foundation for continued learning, research, and consultation. Draft principles on economic and social resilience, circulated to participants ahead of the gathering, will provide a basis for further discussion and revision alongside a summary of the proceedings. The process is intended to develop principles and areas of agreement that can inform broader public dialogue and contribute to the work of decision-makers.
In her closing synthesis, Efrat Behar-Netanel emphasized that the forum’s test would be its ability to turn the knowledge, responsibility, and relationships in the room into sustained collective action.
For Mosaic, its partnership in the forum advances a central institutional mission: to help Israel lead in innovation while ensuring that technological progress supports shared prosperity and social resilience. The questions extend beyond national borders, creating opportunities for international learning and cooperation.
Acknowledging the partners
Mosaic thanks President Isaac Herzog, Adaya Leibovich Tobe, and the President’s Office for their initiative, leadership, and hospitality; Erez Askal and the National AI Directorate for their partnership; and all participants for their expertise and willingness to continue learning and working together.
Our thanks to the group facilitators and partner institutions: Nir Keidar of the Taub Center; Hadas Lorber of the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS); Yigal Nevo of the Tachlit Institute; Alisa Barkovitz of JDC-Tevet; Gilad Bari of the Israel Democracy Institute; Naftali Oppenheimer of the Ethics Institute; and Efrat Behar-Netanel of Mosaic. We also thank Dr. Tsuriel Rashi for moderating the plenary sessions.
Special thanks to the documentation team — Lotem Even-Zahav, Ido Levita, Einat Ashkenazi, Shira Friedman, Yahel Abrams, Gili Kangisser, and Niv Shapira — whose work preserved the range of perspectives and created a foundation for the next stages of the process.
