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In June 2025, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it had successfully hit “strategic Israeli targets” in Tel Aviv. The crazy part? I found out in real time, from the bomb shelter, when our security officer shared videos minutes after the attack. I stopped, stared at my screen for a long moment, and then texted our CMO: “I think we should hire the IRGC. They just gave us international coverage.” Israeli humor aside, here is what actually happened: A ballistic missile struck near the complex housing AI21 Labs’ Tel Aviv headquarters. Windows shattered, alarms blared, and the entire complex was evacuated. A few days later, we learned the damage was less severe than we feared, but we still couldn’t set foot back inside for months. Overnight, our entire team had to relocate to a temporary office nearby, under immense stress. As a leader, a crisis like this strips away the superficial noise. It reminded me of my time in the IDF, where we were taught that a plan is only good until the first variable changes, and that true leadership requires continuous adaptation. Leading an AI company through this taught me one fundamental truth: Adaptability is the ultimate MOAT. In both military intelligence and the AI race, conditions change overnight, whether it’s an incoming missile or the sudden launch of a model like Fable or Astra that can do things you couldn’t do the day before. You cannot freeze. When our physical office was struck, we did not fall into victim mode; instead, we rose up and kept building. In AI, if your team can’t pivot when the market demands it, you risk falling behind or becoming obsolete.