Mind the Tech NY: AI Is No Longer Optional
At Calcalist’s Mind the Tech New York 2025 conference, a consensus emerged among leaders about the crucial role AI plays in modern business practices. During a Microsoft roundtable organized with Israeli Mapped in NY, participants conveyed that without adopting AI, companies—from nascent startups to industry titans—will find it impossible to thrive.
Alon Haimovich, Microsoft’s Israel Country GM, opened the event by emphasizing the company’s adaptive market strategy during economic downturns: ‘We had to change our market approach. Many companies struggled to generate revenue, but Microsoft’s strength enabled us to assist startups with sales through associations in product development, globalization, sales acceleration, and co-marketing.’
Haimovich noted that ‘Israel is the fastest-growing country in Microsoft’s global startup ecosystem’, highlighting the rapid rise of AI in the nation as 2,000 out of 7,000 startups have already integrated these capabilities. He expressed his commitment to nurturing these technologies, stating, ‘I feel a great responsibility to strengthen the high-tech ecosystem by fostering stronger connections between entrepreneurs, investors, and global technology companies.’
Nir Alfandary, Director of High-Tech & Digital Native Partnerships at Microsoft, underscored the need for urgency in AI adoption, mentioning the extraordinary success of Cursor.ai which achieved ‘an astonishing 9,900% growth from just $1 million in 2023’ to $100 million in annual recurring revenue by the end of 2024. He remarked that AI’s role in coding is accelerating at an unprecedented rate, as ‘within a year, AI may be writing nearly all code’.
Guy Franklin, founder of Israeli Mapped in NY, reflected on the growth of the organization, stating that ‘We started with 56 companies and have grown to 400. I believe our collaboration with Microsoft comes at a perfect time, especially with the mayor’s backing for the New York City AI Capital Initiative.’
During the discussions, Adi Hofstein, a Genpact leader, shared his journey in transition from a general back-office service provider to a forward-thinking AI-integrated model. He remarked, ‘We realized we were no longer competitive, prompting a technological transformation through acquisitions and self-development.’ He explained how his company is now processing 15 million invoices each year, significantly reducing traditional workforce numbers yet leading to increased revenue.
As competition intensifies, speakers emphasized the need for businesses to adapt quickly to technological shifts. Adi Hod, CEO of Velotix, noted, ‘If I stick to the same roadmap without adjusting, I won’t survive.’ Meanwhile, Gili Lichtman Kurtz from Hyro.AI stated the pressing necessity of AI integration in healthcare sectors, emphasizing a strategic pivot into this influential market.
In conclusion, the Mind the Tech NY conference highlighted that the AI revolution is overarching and inevitable. Bruce Ge, a venture capitalist, hinted at the potential volatility but underscored the significant demand for authentic AI solutions as opposed to superficial claims in the industry.
If your business is not yet riding the AI wave, it’s time to reconsider—because in today’s market, embracing AI isn’t just an option; it’s becoming a fundamental requisite for survival.
