Israel Launches National AI Sandbox to Bring Personalized Learning to Public Schools
The Israeli Ministry of Education and the Israel Innovation Authority announced the launch of a groundbreaking sandbox for artificial intelligence in education. This regulatory sandbox, a first of its kind in Israel’s education system, will enable tech companies to develop, test, and implement personalized AI-based learning solutions directly in public school classrooms.
The initiative, backed by an initial NIS 10 million (~$3 million) investment, is a central component of Israel’s National Artificial Intelligence Program and aims to position the country at the global forefront of educational innovation. Participating companies will gain access to real-world pilot environments in schools, regulatory support and relief measures tailored to experimentation, and financial assistance from the Israel Innovation Authority.
Regulatory sandboxes are a key pillar of the National AI Program, designed to enable experimentation, reduce regulatory roadblocks, and foster responsible innovation in complex, highly regulated sectors. The establishment of this Regulatory Sandbox is a major step in the Ministry of Education’s broader effort to integrate cutting-edge technologies into the education system for the benefit of students and teachers alike.
A public call for proposals has been issued this week, inviting Israeli tech companies and organizations to apply. Applicants are expected to present breakthrough technologies that enable scalable, personalized learning experiences, solutions that dynamically adapt to each student’s pace, style, and needs, while meeting stringent national standards for privacy, cybersecurity, data analysis, and user experience.
The sandbox is designed to tackle pressing global challenges such as teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, educational disparities, and the increasing demand for individualized learning processes. Unlike many international AI education pilots, which tend to focus narrowly on a specific subject or operate within closed digital systems, Israel’s model is focused on building comprehensive, system-wide solutions.
This initiative builds on the Ministry of Education’s multi-year digital transformation strategy, which has already trained over 110,000 teachers and introduced smart learning tools to hundreds of thousands of students. The Regulatory Sandbox is a flagship program in this larger effort, which is designed to bring the innovation ecosystem directly into schools, allow companies to iterate with real-time classroom data, and help Israeli EdTech gain a global competitive edge.
Yoav Kisch, Minister of Education, said:“Over the past year, Israel’s education system has become the world’s largest testing ground for integrating artificial intelligence into learning. Over 110,000 teachers have been trained, and hundreds of thousands of students use smart tools daily – the Israeli classroom is already undergoing a profound transformation. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. The decision to bring the best minds of high-tech into schools is a strategic move: to provide every child in Israel with the tools to find their place in the new world. We are not reacting to the future, but rather shaping it. This is a profound and unprecedented educational revolution that merges national vision, advanced pedagogy, and world-leading technological capabilities. This is how true leadership is built, not just in what we teach, but in how we teach.”
Gila Gamliel, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, said:“The technological revolution currently taking place in the education system is not just technological advancement, but also a deep conceptual shift. With artificial intelligence, we are paving a new path that allows every student in Israel to learn in a personalized way, according to their pace, style, and unique needs. This initiative removes barriers, narrows gaps, and makes quality education accessible to the periphery, to under-represented populations, and to students with diverse challenges.”
Keren Nevo, VP of Growth at the Israel Innovation Authority, said: “Artificial intelligence is poised to fundamentally change how we learn and teach. It allows the creation of a personalized path for each student, tailored to their needs, preferences, and learning pace. This is a real revolution, and the Ministry of Education has chosen to lead it in a close cooperation with us. The sandbox we are establishing will allow Israeli tech companies to operate within the education system itself, gain field experience, test their solutions in real-time, and gain a global competitive edge. Simultaneously, Israel’s education system will also benefit, by exposure to breakthrough technologies and through direct interaction between the Israeli educational sector and the local innovation community.”
Merav Zaraviv, Head of the Technology Division at the Ministry of Education, said: “This initiative sends a clear message about Israel’s commitment to leading educational innovation and positioning its education system at the forefront of the next wave of technology and artificial intelligence. The tools we provide companies offer fertile ground for developing unique knowledge and skills while ensuring the process is carried out responsibly and in an orderly fashion, providing real solutions to daily classroom challenges. We believe the correct integration of AI in learning can reduce disparities, empower teachers, and allow every student the opportunity to realize their full potential.”