The US and Israel are reportedly holding discussions on a major new initiative to establish a secure artificial intelligence base in Israel’s Negev desert, as Washington intensifies efforts to counter China in the global AI and semiconductor race.
According to a Wall Street Journal opinion article by Hudson Institute researchers Michael Doran and Zineb Riboua, the proposed initiative — known in Israel as “Project Spire” — would combine the security standards of a US military installation with the innovation environment of Silicon Valley.
Under the reported plan, the facility would include advanced research and development centers, massive AI server farms, energy infrastructure tailored for AI model training, and potentially even advanced semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. The goal is to reduce dependence on vulnerable supply chains, especially Taiwan-based chip production.
The project would reportedly operate inside a highly secured environment designed to protect sensitive AI technologies from espionage and cyber infiltration. Chip design, AI model development, and deployment would all take place within a closed security framework similar to classified defense projects.