Israel held its first National Physical AI Conference in Tel Aviv on Sept. 8, 2026, hosted by Israel’s National AI Directorate. The event showcased physical AI applications across industry, medicine, entertainment, infrastructure and defense under the theme “Artificial Intelligence Moving from the Screen to the Physical World.”
Physical AI demonstrations
Exhibits included an AI-powered chess set whose pieces move autonomously, an AI robot from China that cleared a dining table, and an AI-driven painting system that draws based on facial recognition. Organizers also displayed an AI-powered robotic dog and a robotic hand designed for the medical field; visitors experienced the robotic hand during the conference. A participant was shown introducing the medical robotic hand, and a man was reported interacting with the Chinese AI robot on site.
The conference aimed to highlight tangible, real-world implementations of artificial intelligence beyond software, bringing attention to how autonomous systems operate in physical environments. Events and demonstrations focused on applications and prototypes across multiple sectors, illustrating the conference theme’s emphasis on moving AI from screens into the physical world.
