As artificial intelligence reshapes industries and transforms the way people work, one of Israel's leading universities is taking a hands-on approach to preparing students, researchers and staff for the technology.
The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa is holding a 10-day series of workshops, hackathons and training sessions aimed at helping its academic community move beyond simply experimenting with AI tools to putting them to practical use.
The initiative, called "AI Days," runs from October 11-22 and has already attracted more than 4,000 registrations, according to university officials.
The program addresses a growing challenge facing universities worldwide: how to incorporate rapidly advancing AI technology into education and research while ensuring that students and faculty understand both its capabilities and its limitations.
Rather than focusing on predictions about AI's future, the Technion is emphasizing skills participants can apply immediately, from automating everyday tasks and developing software to improving laboratory operations and designing new products.
AI Fluency workshop with Prof. Alon Grinberg-Dana of the Wolfson Faculty of Chemical Engineering
(Photo: Rami Shelush, Technion Spokesperson’s Office)
One workshop, "Claude Code for Everyone," will teach participants how to create AI-powered tools and digital assistants, known as AI agents, even if they have no programming experience. Another, "Entrepreneurship and Innovation with AI," will explore how to turn an initial idea into a working prototype.
Participants can also attend "AI Fluency" sessions covering everything from basic AI applications to understanding how AI models work and writing effective instructions, known as prompts, to obtain better results.
For engineers, a workshop titled "10x Engineer," led by Intel's Avi Salmon, will examine how AI can be incorporated into different stages of product development. Technology companies including Google, IBM, NVIDIA and Base44 will also offer sessions on their AI tools and development platforms.
A hands-on Claude Code for Everyone workshop attended by dozens of students and academic and administrative staff
(Photo: Rami Shelush, Technion Spokesperson’s Office)
The program extends beyond the classroom. A hackathon called the "LabAI Challenge" will bring participants together to develop AI-based solutions to actual research problems at the Technion. Other sessions will explore robotics, AI systems that interact with the physical world, medical applications and the use of AI in academic teaching.
The university is also including discussions on the ethical implications of AI, reflecting concerns about how the technology should be used responsibly in education, research and professional settings.
Prof. Benny Kimelfeld, the Technion's dean of undergraduate studies, said the goal is to equip participants with practical capabilities they can use throughout the academic year.
"Artificial intelligence is transforming science, engineering and education, and defining a new era for humanity," Kimelfeld said.
He said the workshops are intended to help participants understand how AI can improve their work, whether in teaching, scientific research or everyday tasks.
"Our goal is for all of us to begin the semester with meaningful new capabilities," he said.
An Entrepreneurship and Innovation with AI workshop
(Photo: Rami Shelush, Technion Spokesperson’s Office)
Prof. Danny Raz, the Technion's senior executive vice president, said the rapid development of AI is forcing universities to reconsider how they prepare future professionals.
"The artificial intelligence revolution requires us to rethink not only the tools we use, but also how we educate engineers, scientists, physicians and architects for a rapidly changing world," Raz said.
He said the initiative is part of a broader effort to encourage the responsible, critical and creative use of AI across the university.
The more than 4,000 registrations suggest considerable interest among students and staff in acquiring skills that are increasingly relevant across academic disciplines.
The program is open to the Technion's students, researchers, faculty and administrative staff, with activities tailored to different levels of technical experience.
By combining introductory training with advanced engineering applications and research challenges, the university is seeking to make AI a routine part of academic life rather than a specialized field reserved for computer scientists.