Thanks for writing this, it clarifies a lot about the disconnect between incredible talent and infrastrucure. It's fascinating to read about engineers learning to build LLMs from scratch with PyTorch, and it makes you wonder how a country can be so advanced in research yet struggle so much with practical implementation and ecosystem building.
The current government is ideologically driven; not strategic as regards technology and the economy. having a pizza guy move compute to the Negev is beyond stupid; it is absurd. Israel has to attract FDI to build infrastructure; maybe from non-obvious sources.
No, but it is working to develop it, and also hiring top talent. If they're in it for the long run, there should be no reason why top AI talent can't be developed in the Gulf. They'll also become Mecca's (pardon the pun) for AI if they can get the culture and opportunity right, not just the $$.
That's right Bruce, and I think they're already doing that with localized cyber teams (former 8200/NSA grads on ridiculous salaries). If/when the Gulf states ramp up their AI hiring it's going to be even harder to keep talent here (assuming, of course, geopolitics allow for Israeli AI talent to live and work in the Gulf).
That would work for cyber and defense (it already does) but doubtful for AI researchers who want to publish their work, benchmark their models, start serving large customers. AI needs openness and a positive business environment. AKA, not war.
i understand and agree. i was thinking about the infrastructure gap that will develop in Israel as they cant and dont seemed focused on having enough compute to support the brains.
Thanks for writing this, it clarifies a lot about the disconnect between incredible talent and infrastrucure. It's fascinating to read about engineers learning to build LLMs from scratch with PyTorch, and it makes you wonder how a country can be so advanced in research yet struggle so much with practical implementation and ecosystem building.
The current government is ideologically driven; not strategic as regards technology and the economy. having a pizza guy move compute to the Negev is beyond stupid; it is absurd. Israel has to attract FDI to build infrastructure; maybe from non-obvious sources.
Wow. That's crazy
Does the Gulf have enough talent?
No, but it is working to develop it, and also hiring top talent. If they're in it for the long run, there should be no reason why top AI talent can't be developed in the Gulf. They'll also become Mecca's (pardon the pun) for AI if they can get the culture and opportunity right, not just the $$.
what do you mean by the Gulf? the GCC and Saudi? the answer is they can buy the talent if they are deploying $100 B
That's right Bruce, and I think they're already doing that with localized cyber teams (former 8200/NSA grads on ridiculous salaries). If/when the Gulf states ramp up their AI hiring it's going to be even harder to keep talent here (assuming, of course, geopolitics allow for Israeli AI talent to live and work in the Gulf).
🤞. Maybe sub rosa
That would work for cyber and defense (it already does) but doubtful for AI researchers who want to publish their work, benchmark their models, start serving large customers. AI needs openness and a positive business environment. AKA, not war.
i understand and agree. i was thinking about the infrastructure gap that will develop in Israel as they cant and dont seemed focused on having enough compute to support the brains.
Good follow up
Excellent piece on an issue that I never see getting attention other than from you.