Hack the Hate NYC brings together innovators, policymakers, and civil society to fight the rising tide of online antisemitism and extremist hate.
As these recent historic events unfold, Israel is courageously confronting unprecedented threats, including direct aggression from Iran. Its citizens are fighting not just for the Jewish nation, but for the entire free world. Against this urgent backdrop, Hack the Hate NYC brought together top leaders from technology, policy, and civil society on Wednesday.
Presented by Sy Syms School of Business as part of the 8200 Alumni Association, and Generative AI for Good, with significant support from the Orthodox Union and the Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry, this landmark event aimed to leverage innovative technologies to combat digital hate and convey a clear message: talents from Israeli, Jewish, and non-Jewish communities will unite to devise solutions on the technological front lines.
“Hack the Hate NYC isn’t just a conference, it’s the launching point for a sustained global response,” said Shiran Mlamdovsky Somech, founder and CEO of Generative AI for Good. “We’re witnessing how hate-fueled extremism is evolving into mainstream discourse and becoming a transnational, global threat.”
Chen Shmilo, CEO of the 8200 Alumni Association, was forced to remain in Israel due to the conflict with Iran. Delivering a powerful message from a shelter, he said: “Our mission is to mobilize the brightest talent from Israel’s tech sector, leading organizations and Jewish communities around the world to develop impactful, scalable solutions against the growing digital infrastructure of hate.”
“In these times, despair may overwhelm, but that is not our Jewish spirit. We fight not only darkness but kindle light; our answer to antisemitism is for dreamers and builders to fill the world with their creations and light,” said Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, president of Yeshiva University. “Yeshiva University is proud to stand at this nexus, harnessing our collective intellect and values to forge impact multipliers against antisemitism.”
The event drew strong support from senior government officials, reflecting its national significance. Among them was Leo Terrell, senior counsel to the assistant attorney-general for the Civil Rights Division and chair of the DOJ Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, who spoke on behalf of the US Department of Justice. In his remarks, he reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to combating antisemitism and advancing civil rights.
“Let’s be clear, this is not simply a Jewish issue. It’s a societal imperative. The fabric of our free and flourishing society is in peril,” said Terrell. “The United States, under the great leadership of President Donald Trump, Attorney-General Pam Bondi, and Assistant Attorney-General Harmeet Dhillon, is rising to the occasion. The nation of Israel is the light to our path, exemplifying how technology and cross sector cooperation can be channeled for good. Israel, as a start-up nation, exemplifies how to truly hack the hate.”
Welcoming remarks were also delivered by Ambassador Ofir Akunis, consul-general of Israel in New York. A keynote address by Anne Neuberger, former US deputy national security advisor for cyber & emerging tech, warned of coordinated online antisemitic revisionism and emphasized the urgent need for fact-checking, bias-free tools, and editorial rigor.
The evening’s agenda showcased Israeli innovation as a crucial force in this fight, as panel discussions featured founders and executives from leading start-ups and venture capital firms, including AI21 Labs, Cyabra, Charm Security, 6Star Capital, Maccabee Ventures, and Israeli Mapped in NY.
As global threats evolve, the Trust Tech market is emerging within the broader Gen AI market, which is projected to reach $23 trillion by 2040. Start-ups discussed cybersecurity and advanced AI technologies and showcased intelligent detection agents, secure LLMs, and more.
Another key session featured Steve Mulder, director of Command Center Analytics at the Robert Kraft Foundation, who discussed how philanthropy and technology can work together to produce real-time, data-driven insights in the fight against hate.
The initiative aims to build a lasting framework for meaningful, long-term impact. Closing the event, Rabbi Moshe Hauer, executive vice president of the Orthodox Union, called for unity and ongoing commitment to the cause.
Building on this momentum, the 8200 Alumni Association and Generative AI for Good announced plans to establish a dedicated Accelerator and Innovation Hub to scale anti-hate technologies. They issued a call to action for corporations, start-ups, and civil society organizations to contribute their expertise to this critical initiative.
The event concluded with a networking reception designed to connect tech innovators and policymakers, fostering collaborations that address the digital infrastructure of hate.
An emotional highlight of the evening was the presence of Eliya Cohen, a former hostage, along with his partner Ziv Abud, a Nova survivor, and Nimrod Arnin, founder of the Nova Festival and a survivor himself, who were greeted by the audience with a standing ovation.
Later on, Mlamdovsky Somech also paid homage to Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, Jewish-Israeli diplomats who were killed in Washington, emphasizing the harsh reality and deadly threat posed by antisemitism.
Written in collaboration with 8200 Alumni Association and Generative AI for Good