TAU and Google Israel Launch New Three-Year Program to Advance Core AI Research

Google and Tel Aviv University (TAU) are continuing their collaboration, now launching a new three-year program to promote research in artificial intelligence (AI) and data science. The new program focuses on advancing foundational research in AI, including innovation in language models, AI for privacy, algorithmic efficiency, and more. The program will be led by the Center for AI & Data Science at Tel Aviv University (TAD), headed by Prof. Yishay Mansour from the Blavatnik School of Computer Science and AI. Google.org (Google's philanthropic arm) announced it will provide $1 million in funding.

Supporting Research, Students, and Education in AI

The new program was launched at a festive event at Tel Aviv University (TAU), with the participation of TAU President, Prof. Ariel Porat, Google Vice President and Head of Google Research, Prof. Yossi Matias and Prof. Tova Milo, Dean of the Faculty of Exact Sciences. As part of the collaboration, Google will support research grants and scholarships for students in the core areas of AI. In addition, emphasis will be placed on new educational initiatives at the TAD Center: an honors program for graduate students in AI, as well as the BITS of AI program for teens from Israel's social and geographic peripheries, in collaboration with TAU’s Youth University.

TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat said: “Our collaboration with Google began about five years ago, when Google supported interdisciplinary AI collaborations connecting researchers in Computer Science, Engineering, and Data Science, with those in the Life Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences. The newly launched program  focuses on core areas of AI and includes scholarships for PhD students. In addition, it enables scholarships for students from Israel's periphery - thereby advancing the university’s strategy of supporting students who have not had the same opportunities as most of their peers.”

Advancing Science Through Academic–Industry Partnership

Prof. Yossi Matias, Google Vice President and Head of Google Research (the global research division): “Research and academic excellence are more important than ever. I believe in the benefits of mutual enrichment between outstanding academic research and the development of technological innovation —when researchers from different disciplines and different approaches come together meaningful advances emerge. Through our expanding partnership with academia, we are advancing science and technology in fields that are significant for humanity and the world.”

Prof. Yishay Mansour, Head of the TAU Center for AI & Data Science (TAD), thanked Google for their fruitful collaboration and continued support for research in AI.  “Promoting research in the core areas of AI is of utmost importance," he said. "One of our central challenges is developing theories that explain AI's meteoric success. A deep understanding of the processes involved in training large language models can open new directions and contribute to significant improvements in the algorithmic efficiency of learning processes. Moreover, many social challenges are linked to the advancement of AI, including the critical importance of safeguarding privacy.”

Building the Next Generation of Researchers

Prof. Avinatan Hassidim, Google Vice President and Head of the Research Group in Israel, Africa, and Australia: “Our longstanding relationship with TAU enables us to bring together resources and knowledge around research questions important to both sides. As part of the current collaboration, we will continue working together over the next three years to promote innovation and nurture Israel's next generation of researchers and developers. Our joint work helps us contribute to the local ecosystem and strive for solutions to complex technological challenges.”

Dr. Shiri Stempler, Executive Director at the TAD Center, notes that the new program is a continuation of previous initiatives that focused on advancing AI research in sustainability, health, and education. These programs, jointly led by Dr. Stempler from TAU and Gal Weiss, Strategic Partnerships Development Manager at Google Research, included joint workshops of researchers from TAU and Google, and provided a platform to strengthen ties between academia and industry.

Additionally, over the past three years, Google has supported TAU's ExactShe program led by Prof. Tova Milo, Dean of the Faculty of Exact Sciences, which aims to create a supportive community for women in research.