Right now, cyberattacks and online manipulation are happening across the digital domain, weakening security worldwide as part of a broader global transformation.
Artificial intelligence is spreading into every part of society, from governments, industry, education, and healthcare to the economy and public discourse, reshaping our lives at unprecedented speed. Some professions are disappearing, new ones are emerging, and the pace of change is faster than nations can keep up with. The hot topics at Israel’s recent Cyber Week conference are a clear reminder: Those who fail to adapt now will be more exposed than ever.
The World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Risks Report identifies disinformation and cyberattacks as two of the biggest threats to humanity. In a world where truth and lies mix and information spreads quickly, every Israeli needs a new basic skill: cyber and AI literacy. This means knowing how AI works, spotting manipulations, keeping data safe, and using the internet securely. The American national security strategy shows that strong cyberdefense depends not just on technology, but also on skilled people and a resilient society.
After working with advanced tech training programs for the past decade, including those using real-life simulations and cutting-edge learning environments, I have seen how important digital and AI literacy have become, not only for hi-tech professionals but for every citizen. Understanding how cyber threats work and how AI systems influence our perception of reality is now key to improving a nation’s cyber resilience.
Today, when malicious nations use propaganda, disinformation, and cognitive warfare to destabilize societies, being literate in these areas becomes a pillar of national security. For society to withstand waves of digital manipulation, people need strong critical thinking skills and a deep understanding of how information moves. Without a resilient public, even the most advanced technological and operational systems are not enough.
In Israel today, thousands of young people, including many combat soldiers who have faced tough challenges during the war, are returning to a world that is changing quickly. They bring important skills like making decisions under pressure, quickly analyzing emergencies, showing leadership, perseverance, and strong mental resilience. Israel needs to help these young people use their abilities in new careers and make these strengths a driving force for the country’s growth.
Previously, Israel’s tech ecosystem relied on the military as an incubator for cultivating top technological talent. But today’s security reality requires assigning many high-potential young people to combat roles. As a result, the responsibility for cultivating expertise essential to national security now shifts to the state, civilian training institutions, and higher education.
Opportunities to expand participation in Cyber and AI
This shift also presents a strategic opportunity: to expand participation in cyber and AI professions, particularly among women, who remain significantly underrepresented in hi-tech and cyber sectors. These fields rely on analytical thinking, creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving, areas in which women often excel. If Israel acts wisely, the transition to civilian training can both strengthen its tech future and help close long-standing gender and social gaps.
To meet this challenge, Israel needs an expanded and modernized training infrastructure suited for the AI era: foundational cyber and AI training for the entire population, including government employees, banking staff, and workers across all sectors. Universities and teacher-training colleges must integrate AI and cyber training into all academic programs, alongside relevant professional specialization pathways. AI is no longer merely a chapter within computer science; it is a field that influences every academic discipline, from practical applications to ethical and regulatory considerations.
Training pathways must be practical, based on real-world scenarios that prepare learners for advanced systems and evolving threat environments. Programs developed in collaboration with leading technological organizations show that practice-based training enables learners to achieve high competency in a relatively short period. This model has proven effective both for young people and for adults entering the field with no prior background, and it is essential for building the human defensive layer that Israel urgently needs.
Israel stands at a critical crossroads. Investing in people is the only way to build the next layer of defense for the country’s security, economy, and social strength. This new layer will include not just cyber experts and AI engineers, but also citizens who have digital skills and can think critically. People need to be able to spot manipulation, question what they see online, and move safely through the digital world. Israel’s future will be shaped by innovators, developers and researchers, but just as much on a wide group of skilled and informed citizens who can use technology wisely and help protect themselves and the nation in a rapidly changing world.
The writer is an advisory board member at CyberproAI and CEO of the Davidson Institute of Science Education.