israel
Elon Musk told Israel’s Smart Mobility Summit that Israel is “number one” in innovation per capita and predicted that artificial intelligence will power most transportation within the next five to ten years. Musk joined the Tel Aviv event by video after canceling an expected in-person appearance.
Elon Musk praised Israel’s technology sector during a video appearance at the Samson International Smart Mobility Summit 2026 in Tel Aviv, saying the country stands out globally for innovation.
Musk, the owner of Tesla and SpaceX, said Israel produces far more innovation than its population size would suggest.
“Israel punches far above its weight,” Musk said.
He added that when it comes to innovation per person, Israel is likely the strongest country in the world.
Musk told the conference that artificial intelligence will soon drive most of the transportation sector.
He predicted that within five to ten years, roughly 90 percent of transportation will be powered by AI.
The discussion focused on autonomous vehicles, smart mobility, robotics, and the future of AI-driven transportation.
Musk had originally been expected to attend the summit in person as the guest of honor, but he ultimately joined by video.
According to the report, he apologized for missing the event and said preparations connected to a planned SpaceX Nasdaq IPO kept him from traveling to Israel.
The summit was held at Expo Tel Aviv through an initiative of Israel’s Ministry of Transportation in cooperation with Keren Hayesod.
Musk argued that fully autonomous driving will eventually be safer than human driving.
He said Tesla is already working toward vehicles that can operate without people inside and without safety-monitoring systems, and he expressed hope that such vehicles will become widely available in the United States and later in Israel.
He also said robotics will grow quickly as AI improves, describing a car as a kind of robot on wheels.
Musk said he expects humanoid robots to become far more common in the future as machines become more capable of acting in human-like ways.
Musk also addressed concerns about automation and jobs, saying AI-driven productivity could eventually create a much higher level of prosperity.
Asked about the possibility of a world without war, Musk said the challenge is reducing conflict without creating heavy-handed control over people.
His remarks came as Israel continues to position itself as a major center for AI, mobility, defense technology, and advanced innovation.
For Israel’s tech sector, Musk’s message was clear: the country remains one of the world’s most important innovation hubs, especially in fields where artificial intelligence is reshaping the future.
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