(haipo) – A conference, held at the Government Press Office (GPO) and chaired by Nitzan Chen, dealt with the dramatic effects of artificial intelligence on the fields of communication, public service and the labor market. The speakers presented practical insights, ethical challenges and predictions for the future, while engaging in an in-depth discussion on journalism, professional training and the gaps in adaptation to the digital age.
Nitzan Chen – Director of the Government Press Office
Nitzan Chen began by addressing the dramatic changes that the world of work is experiencing as a result of artificial intelligence. According to him, many professions are expected to disappear or change substantially, while others – such as physical work in construction and agriculture – will remain essential. He believes that the discourse on “blue-and-white” professions (i.e., physical work) is a discourse that needs to be adapted to the new reality. Traditional services such as accounting and tourism, he said, are already changing and are increasingly being performed online.
Chen argues that the key questions are whether we need to prepare for change (and the answer, in his opinion, is yes), whether we need professional training (of course we do), and how we will cope with a world that is based more on automated tools and artificial intelligence. He warns against complacency and emphasizes that the change this time is a "real wolf" – that is, a real revolution and not an imagined threat.
However, Chen also conveys optimism: There will always be relevant journalists and media, they just have to change and adapt to the new tools. He concludes by saying that he is sure it will be interesting – especially in light of the expert who will speak after him – and calls for preparation in the coming decade.
Roy Kahlon – Acting Civil Service Commissioner
Kahlon addresses the importance of the civil service as the most significant body in the country, and emphasizes the critical need to adapt it to the new era.
According to him, artificial intelligence is also a challenge, but mainly golden opportunity To bring about a profound change in the functioning of the public service. One of the significant examples he cites is the division of all professions in the civil service into three groups – first, those that artificial intelligence can completely replace, and which constitute about 15%-20% of the public human force.
Kahlon argues that we should think not only about employee turnover, but also about upgrading and reassignment – for example, someone who once handled simple legal matters in a courtroom could move to new professions that will be relevant to the new world of work. According to him, The most significant impact will be on areas such as medicine, education, and economics., and we need to ensure that employees undergo quality training quickly and efficiently.
He says that a structured document with insights in this area will soon be submitted to the Prime Minister, the result of joint work by the civil service, academia and research institutes. He promises that senior staff will also undergo training – and gave as an example a manager who told him that he did not have ChatGPT on his phone. In concluding his remarks, he calls for changing the civil service so that it is at the forefront, rather than lagging behind, in relation to the private sector.
Amalia Doak – Channel 12 reporter
Amalia Doek brings the perspective of a journalist who deals with the daily AI-based fake newsShe emphasizes that the past year, and especially since the beginning of the war, has illustrated how easy it is to spread false information that appears completely authentic – including fake photos and manipulated videos. Dweck notes that one of the key challenges today is identifying Deep Pike Cases, and in particular cases where fake images became part of official reports.
She shares a case in which a fake photo of a baby girl from Gaza published as a "main cover" caused profound psychological damage.
Doak also cites an example from the war in Gaza, where journalists almost fell for a fake image of IDF fighters marching in Gaza with Israeli flags – and only their vigilance saved the report. According to her, we are currently living in an era of "Post Truth"And journalists have a dual responsibility: to verify every detail and to provide context.
She also points out the dangers of the increasing use of AI for writing articles, explaining that even if AI does not completely replace journalists, it is certainly changing the way they work. She argues that the tool is powerful and impressive, but there is not enough incentive for regulation, which poses a serious risk to society. She concludes with the hope that all attendees will leave the conference with more tools for criticism and confrontation.
Ido Keinan – Journalist and Communications and Technology Researcher
Ido Keinan presents a broad overview of artificial intelligence, focusing onGenerative Artificial Intelligence Like ChatGPT and its ilk. According to him, the technology is capable of analyzing vast databases quickly and efficiently that humans are unable to cope with. He explains the good and bad uses of the tools: on the one hand, saving time, producing content quickly and cheaply, and assisting news organizations; on the other hand, there is a fear of spreading false and biased content.
Keenan describes how news sites are now using AI to replace human editors in determining headlines and editing content – a process that was previously controlled by humans.
According to him, the problem is not just that the tools produce content – but that certain news organizations Exploiting artificial intelligence for political or economic purposes, like spreading propaganda under the guise of journalism.
Keenan warns against confusing real journalistic content with partially automated and controlled content. He emphasizes the importance of Journalistic ethics – transparency, accuracy, and originality – and calls for a distinction between “writing about what happened” and “writing about what didn’t happen at all.” In addition, he points to the increasing difficulty of identifying fake content, because AI is constantly improving, and the struggle for information quality is becoming a permanent, educational and social task.
At the conclusion of the conference, a panel was held moderated by Assaf Lieberman – a journalist at Kan 11 News.
Tal and Leibowitz – Fire and Rescue Spokesperson:
Tal Valibowitz enthusiastically shared how she uses AI, and specifically ChatGPT, to improve her work as a speaker. According to her, the tool has completely changed the way she writes content – from speeches to training programs. She said that she wrote a speech for a cadet course graduation ceremony, with the help of AI, while incorporating values of diversity, responsibility and public service. In her opinion, ChatGPT is able to produce high-quality, professional products, and sometimes even better than those made by professionals, and in less time.
She emphasized that the modern spokesperson no longer focuses only on journalists, but mainly on addressing the general public directly – 70% of the role today, she said, is direct outreach to the public through digital means. Fire and Rescue is investing in smart platforms for disseminating information – such as screens in elevators, collaborations with youth movements, and video content delivered in schools. Leibowitz even describes how her 80-year-old father was forced to adapt to technology – and has since become active in the media. According to her, anyone who does not learn the tools of the AI era is simply “irrelevant,” and she emphasized that this transition is critical, not only technologically – but also perceptually and professionally.
Nili Ben Gigi – Director of New Media, Ministry of Health
Nili Ben Gigi described the wave of fake news and deepfake that has also hit the Ministry of Health, especially since the Corona period. She told of cases in which high-quality fake videos were produced, in which senior officials in the ministry – such as Prof. Roni Gamzo – were supposedly seen recommending drugs that were not approved or even did not exist. According to her, some of the videos were marketed by websites that pretended to be official and managed to convince users to provide personal and even credit information.
Ben Gigi explained that the problem is not only technological – but also economic. Some platforms, she said, are simply in no hurry to remove fake content because it generates revenue for them. The Ministry of Health has sometimes had to struggle for weeks to get such content taken down. She expresses deep concern that even skilled people are now having difficulty distinguishing between real and fake, and that technology is only getting better.
Its main message: This is a real threat to public health and public trust, and it is time to recognize that this is not a one-time event but an ongoing problem, which requires a systemic, technological, and regulatory response.
Rafaela Goichman – Independent Journalist
Rafaela Goichman emphasizes the difference between using tools like AI as an aid and replacing the work of a journalist. For her, the ability of artificial intelligence to help with text summarization, idea generation, and primary research is positive and welcome. However, she says, real journalistic writing includes deeply human elements: connections, emotions, conversations with people, and story building. She refuses to hand her work over to the algorithm, even if it can be streamlined.
Goichman describes the dangers of impersonation on social media using AI – from photo forgeries to impersonating Israeli accounts that spread false and oppressive messages.
She says that attempts to influence the Israeli public during wartime, through fictitious characters posing as “ordinary Israelis,” are particularly disturbing. She describes how forgeries can sometimes be detected through small mistakes – such as poorly translated texts or images with minor flaws – but admits that such detection requires a skilled eye.
In conclusion, Goichman emphasizes that artificial intelligence is not “the enemy” – but it requires caution, responsibility, and strong journalistic values to maintain truth in the face of the flood of fake information.
Yuval Malhi – Director of New Media, Population Authority
Yuval Malhi described how artificial intelligence is integrated into the work routine of the Population Authority. According to him, the new tools have changed both relations with the public and the way government content is produced. He gave many examples: writing official letters quickly, producing dedicated marketing content (such as ads that feature soldiers without revealing real characters), and producing accurate questions and answers for use on government websites.
According to him, the use of AI streamlines processes, saves time, and improves the quality of communication with the public. He expresses hope that civil servants will learn to use these tools not just as a bonus – but as an integral part of the job. Malki asks managers to put in their calendars “an hour a week to experiment with new technologies,” with the understanding that the world is moving at a rapid pace.
At the same time, he warns against irresponsible use, and calls for using tools with caution and not releasing inaccurate information or unsupervised content. According to him, the idea is not to replace people – but to upgrade them. Those who ignore technology – especially the younger generation – may find themselves out of the game.
Nitzan Chen concluded the conference by calling for continued close monitoring of changes in the field of artificial intelligence. He noted that after Passover, a move will be launched that will allow anyone interested to see with their own eyes how artificial intelligence is being used on television – including live broadcasts from the stock exchange without human contact.
Chen expressed admiration for the combination of technology and communication, and suggested thinking of intelligence like Swiss chocolate – it should be consumed in balance.
Finally, he announced that a biweekly newsletter will be launched by the Government Press Office on innovations in the field, free of charge and available to the general public.