At the first American Innovation Forum in Jerusalem, experts emphasized that artificial intelligence tools are reshaping the professional landscape at an unprecedented pace. The forum brought together dozens of young professionals for discussions centered around the theme “.Level up: Career growth in the age of AI.”
“It’s important to know how to use it, but it’s also important to know that AI can help you build applications faster and come up with new ideas faster, but there needs to be a human behind it, and a human needs to remain at the wheel,” said Mohammad Kabaja, senior software and AI infrastructure architect at Amazon Web Services (AWS). Don’t give all control to them.”
Kabaja was one of three speakers at the inaugural Jerusalem Young Professionals (JYP) Forum, Made in Jerusalem, Jerusalem Startup Grind, along with ActionAI CEO Miriam Hart and NVIDIA Israel Vice President and Director of Human Resources Gideon Rosenberg.
“I think what’s important in the tech industry is to fail, and with AI we can fail faster and move forward to find the real thing that ultimately works,” Kabaja said.
Haalt agreed with this idea, and when asked what career path young professionals should pursue, he said, “Nothing is guaranteed.” “One way to minimize risk in your career is to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Try it out and take short-term steps to ultimately achieve your goals,” she said.
And Mr. Rosenberg’s career reflects this idea. Although he is a lawyer and does not come from a technology background, he found success in the tech industry by getting a job at a technology-focused company.
“Aside from software, coding and development, tech companies are regular businesses that require lawyers, accountants, finance and sales. That’s what I joined the tech industry for. I know what I’m good at and that’s what I do working in tech companies,” he asserted.
AI safety and ethics in high-tech industries
Another main topic of the forum will be the safety and ethical development of AI, which speakers say is a key issue of interest to all major stakeholders currently developing AI.
“At the moment, AI is like an infant: it just gives you the answers it wants to hear, without any input into its thought process or its own imagination,” Kabaja said. “However, it is good that the risks of AI development are now being addressed and there is time to address the problems it may cause.”
Haart agrees that this has long been a major concern in AI, as ethics courses have been taught at some of the world’s leading universities for the past decade. “Ultimately, we can think of AI as a gun. Guns have safety mechanisms that aim to avoid unnecessary risks, but ultimately it is up to the people who build and use them to guarantee their safety,” she asserted.
“I personally believe in the power of good in people doing the right thing, and I believe that these are the people who will win when developing ethical AI models,” she added.
“It’s important to understand that the world is not going to end with robots, and AI is not going to take over us,” Rosenberg said, adding that all parties involved in AI development have an interest in regulating AI, building frameworks to work together, and ensuring that AI can be used safely.
Jerusalem, Israel, and high-tech opportunities
According to a press release provided by JYP, “At the heart of this initiative is the JYP Forum’s mission to build a strong, inclusive community of young professionals that unites the talent of East and West Jerusalem. One of the common themes at the Forum was the great potential of Israel and Jerusalem, driven by the people who live here.”
Kabaja, who was born and raised in the Old City of Jerusalem, considers being a Jerusalemite a special advantage. “I finished school in Jerusalem, but I didn’t speak English and I didn’t even have a driver’s license. But I learned that the only way to get ahead is through hard work. And I think that’s an important aspect of the people of Jerusalem. This city doesn’t give you an easy path, but it does raise strong people.”
Haalt agreed, pointing out that Israel has many hard-working workers. “I love hiring people here because it’s a great combination of family, hard work and, of course, great satisfaction.”
“The United States and the UAE, where we also have offices, offer the best locations to acquire capital and investment, while in Israel we have a good way to acquire this capital through new developments, thanks to a great talent pool,” she added.
Rosenberg and NVIDIA share this view. “Our newest product, the NVIDIA Vera CPU, has four of the six chips designed by the company’s Israeli office. Israel is such a significant investment for NVIDIA that Israeli management considers it their second home outside the United States.”
“Jerusalem is emerging as an emerging high-tech hub as American companies seek top talent across Israel. The American Innovation Forum will connect Jerusalem’s young professionals directly with global industry and strengthen strategic opportunities on the ground,” said Mark Faust, JYP Forum Founder and Chairman.
