The ZMI Podcasts

Behind every AI prompt lies a world of advanced chips and enormous energy demands. As data centers evolve into AI factories, who will power them - and who will bear the costs? Dr. Ben Haklai, National Technology Officer at Microsoft Israel joins this episode of the ZMI podcast and explores the physical infrastructure driving the AI revolution. He discusses the challenges of building these facilities, securing electricity, and addressing the concerns of neighboring communities. The conversation also examines the global race for computing power and what AI sovereignty really means. Can countries build independent AI capabilities, or will international partnerships prove essential? Research Team: Nicole Sher, Evyatar Cohen, Noya Nahmani and Dorin Mirilashvili Guest: Dr. Ben Haklai, National Technology Officer, Microsoft Israel Research Partner: Singapore Management University Executive Producer: Ayelet Triest Professional Guidance: Professor Dov Greenbaum and Inbar Carmel Produced by: Zvi Meitar Institute for Legal Implications of Emerging Technologies in Reichman University, in collaboration with AudioVersity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Autonomous vehicles are already driving hands-free, and cities are quietly deploying AI systems that control entire traffic grids - reading pedestrians, cars, and intersections in real time. But as machines take the wheel, who takes responsibility when something goes wrong? In this podcast we dig into why the public holds autonomous vehicles to a stricter standard than human drivers, the cybersecurity risks of connected city infrastructure, the unresolved question of AI regulation, and a uniquely Israeli dilemma: can smart traffic systems ever be halachically compliant on Shabbat? We speak with Dr. Mois Navon, a rabbi, engineer, and philosopher who spent years as a principal engineer at Mobileye and now serves as Israel's national adviser on artificial intelligence policy and regulation. His expertise brings together a unique point of view at the intersection between technology, law, and innovation. Hosts: Zach Neppe and Tzoer Wichers Guest: Dr. Mois Navon Research Partner: Yamit Avisar Executive Producer and Editor: Ayelet Triest Professional Guidance: Mrs. Inbar Carmel and Professor Dov GreenbaumSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if a machine trained on your values, preferences, and lifetime of decisions could make better choices for you than a human guardian? Even if it could, should we let it? We explore whether AI could one day become your legal guardian — who it would truly serve, whether the law could recognize it, and the unsettling question of when a model of you stops being a tool and starts becoming a version of you. We discuss autonomy, incapacity, and the future of decision-making with Professor Dov Greenbaum, Professor of Law and Technology and Director of the Zvi Meitar Institute for Legal Implications of Emerging Technologies at Reichman University. Dov is a licensed attorney and Certified Information Privacy Professional, holding a Ph.D. from Yale and a J.D. from UC Berkeley. Hosts: Vered Negash and Eli Afik Research Partner: Rotem Shechter Executive Producer & Editor: Ayelet Triest Professional Guidance: Mrs. Inbar Carmel and Professor Dov GreenbaumSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Generative AI is reshaping what people trust, share, and what the law can prove. In this episode, we sit down with Dan Or-Hof, Israeli and New York attorney, founder of Or-Hof Law, and IAPP Country Leader for Israel, to explore AI’s growing impact on trust and evidence. From voice-cloning scams to fabricated military intelligence, the conversation asks whether existing laws can keep pace with technology that increasingly blurs the line between real and fake. The discussion also examines privacy, free expression, AI regulation in Israel and the EU, and potential tools for authenticating digital content. It closes with a broader concern: as we increasingly outsource thinking to AI, the consequences may extend beyond law to our own judgment and confidence. Hosts: Avigayil Finley and Elan Zashin Research Partner: Danila Stepanov Executive Producer: Ayelet Triest Professional Guidance: Mrs. Inbar Carmel and Professor Dov GreenbaumSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are smart textiles? Fabrics are learning to sense, react, and connect—turning garments into living interfaces. From hospital gowns that track vitals to military uniforms that help prevent heat stress and sportswear that coaches in real time, smart textiles are poised to transform healthcare, defense, industry, and everyday fashion. We also dive into active textiles—materials that adapt in real time to the wearer’s body by modulating temperature and compression, changing color or stiffness, delivering haptic cues, or powering micro-actuation. But as cloth becomes code, new questions emerge: Who owns data gathered at skin level? How do we keep these systems safe and reliable? And what are the legal, ethical, and social trade-offs when our clothes start to compute? Our guest is Ori Topaz — managing director and researcher at CIRTex (the Israeli Center for Innovation and Research in Textiles, focused on advanced textile innovation) and senior lecturer at Shenkar’s design faculty. Special guest: Ori Topaz Hosts: Michal Bar Gil & Noam Ben Zimra Research partner: Noam Meshulam Executive Producer: Ayelet Triest Editor: Ben Shani Professional guidance: Mrs. Inbar Carmel and Professor Dov Greenbaum.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a world where war, displacement, and trauma affect millions, an AI platform called Kai.ai is offering a new kind of emotional support. It combines generative AI with a human clinical team to deliver real-time help for PTSD and anxiety through everyday messaging apps like WhatsApp. This raises important questions. Can a chatbot ever provide the warmth of a human therapist? How do we make sure private conversations stay truly private? And can this kind of technology expand access to care without replacing the professionals who give it? We talk about these questions with Alex Frankel, CEO and co-founder of Kai.ai. With a background in psychology, experience running clinical teams, and years of work in AI-driven mental health, Alex shares his perspective on how technology can support healing while staying safe, effective, and personal. Hosts: Korin Arbel and Samuel Snukal Research partner: Amit Bendor-Gus Executive Producer: Ayelet Triest Editor: Ben Shani Professional guidance: Mrs. Inbar Carmel and Professor Dov GreenbaumSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CRISPR, the Nobel Prize winning technology, is revolutionizing genetic science. but its potential goes far beyond medicine. As we gain the ability to edit the human genome, new questions emerge: Who gets access? How do we decide what should be changed? And how do we harness a tool that could reshape society itself? We discuss the future of genetic modifications with Professor Dov Greenbaum. With a Ph.D in genetics from Yale University, a Juris Doctorate from U.C. Berkeley, and Post-Doctorate from Stanford University, his expertise perfectly bridges genetics and law. Hosts: Noa Mimram and Shachar Farber Research partner: Shira Yaniv Executive Producer: Ayelet Triest Editor: Ben Shani Professional guidance: Mrs. Inbar Carmel and Professor Dov GreenbaumSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI and deepfake technology are shaking Hollywood to its core. resurrecting dead actors, cloning performances, and blurring the line between real and fake. Is this just another chapter in cinema’s evolution, or a true existential threat? We interview Seth Hallen, former president of the Hollywood Professional Association and founding partner at Hallstone Ventures, sharing his expert perspective on the future of storytelling. Hosts: Daniella Dayan and Matan Zahavi Research partner: Yahel Ktoovim Executive Producer: Ayelet Triest Editor: Ben Shani Professional guidance: Mrs. Inbar Carmel and Professor Dov Greenbaum.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the ZMI podcast, we delve into the cutting-edge realm of personalized medicine with the esteemed Professor Noam Shomron. As a trailblazer in genetic research, Professor Shomron sheds light on how our individual genetic profiles can shape customized healthcare treatments, heralding a future where medical care is precisely tailored to each patient. We explore the potential of genetic testing in disease prediction and prevention, the role of AI in uncovering complex genetic patterns, and the ethical and legal challenges of utilizing genetic data. Tune in for an enlightening conversation on the future of healthcare, where personalized medicine promises treatments as unique as our DNA, offering a revolutionary approach to health and wellness.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the ZMI Podcast, we explore the world of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and its implications in the digital age with Amit Weiss, VP of Intelligence at Darrow AI. Amit discusses the evolution of OSINT, its role in safeguarding society, and the ethical challenges it presents. From social media to government databases, and Darrow’s AI-driven detection of hidden legal violations, we uncover the complexities of modern intelligence gathering. Join us as we delve into the balance between privacy, security, and ethical AI use, and discover how these technologies are revolutionizing the pursuit of justice and shaping our digital future.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.