Key Takeaways
- • Bill Ackman, founder and CEO of Pershing Square, said at Sheba Medical Center's ARC innovation summit that Israel "could become one of the best economies in the world," citing the concentration of talent as an advantage in the AI era.
- • Ackman said he and his wife, Neri Oxman, decided to invest in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange within an hour of discussion following the October 7 attacks.
- • Ackman criticized Europe's economic and political direction, describing socialist models there as a major threat, and voiced concern about the rising influence of "democratic socialists" in the United States.
- • Ackman said he had met only Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu among Israeli candidates and credited him with handling the war, arguing that Middle East risk has dropped significantly.
- • Ackman is establishing an AI-native brain research institute, inspired by his daughter Lucy's stroke, and has purchased a building for the institute after initial talks with Mount Sinai Hospital stalled.
Summary
Speaking at Sheba Medical Center's annual ARC innovation summit in conversation with Prof. Yitshak Kreiss, director general of Sheba, Pershing Square founder and CEO Bill Ackman argued that Israel could become one of the world's leading economies. He said Israel's small population, traditionally a drawback, could become an advantage in the age of artificial intelligence, because what matters most is the concentration of talent within the country.
Ackman said that he and his wife, Neri Oxman, had come to Israel to vote in the country's upcoming elections, which he described as very important to her. He said that following the October 7 attacks, the couple decided to invest in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange after just an hour of discussion. On politics, Ackman said he had personally met only Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu among the candidates, praising him for "a good job during the war." He argued that the level of risk in the Middle East had dropped significantly and that prospects for peace had improved, adding that resolution of the Iranian issue would yield a major "peace dividend."
Ackman was also critical of Europe, which he said faces a major threat from socialist models, pointing to developments in France. On the United States, he said he was deeply concerned about the rising influence of "democratic socialists," which he argued poses a threat to both the American economy and Israel.
Ackman discussed his daughter Lucy, who suffered a stroke while alone at home and reached hospital many hours later with a brain hemorrhage. He said she is recovering, though a long road remains regarding her speech and vision. The experience helped inspire his plans for a research institute dedicated to the brain. He said he had spent recent months establishing the institute, initially holding discussions with Mount Sinai Hospital, which proved lengthy. He and his team then purchased a building they believe better suits their goals. He said the institute would be "AI-native" and aim to significantly shorten the timeline for bringing medical innovation into hospitals. Kreiss noted that Ackman had reached out to Sheba, with discussions including the hospital's role in his daughter's rehabilitation.
Ackman said that he and his wife, Neri Oxman, had come to Israel to vote in the country's upcoming elections, which he described as very important to her. He said that following the October 7 attacks, the couple decided to invest in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange after just an hour of discussion. On politics, Ackman said he had personally met only Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu among the candidates, praising him for "a good job during the war." He argued that the level of risk in the Middle East had dropped significantly and that prospects for peace had improved, adding that resolution of the Iranian issue would yield a major "peace dividend."
Ackman was also critical of Europe, which he said faces a major threat from socialist models, pointing to developments in France. On the United States, he said he was deeply concerned about the rising influence of "democratic socialists," which he argued poses a threat to both the American economy and Israel.
Ackman discussed his daughter Lucy, who suffered a stroke while alone at home and reached hospital many hours later with a brain hemorrhage. He said she is recovering, though a long road remains regarding her speech and vision. The experience helped inspire his plans for a research institute dedicated to the brain. He said he had spent recent months establishing the institute, initially holding discussions with Mount Sinai Hospital, which proved lengthy. He and his team then purchased a building they believe better suits their goals. He said the institute would be "AI-native" and aim to significantly shorten the timeline for bringing medical innovation into hospitals. Kreiss noted that Ackman had reached out to Sheba, with discussions including the hospital's role in his daughter's rehabilitation.
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