Robotic beehives and cancer-sniffing dogs: Israeli innovations make TIME’s list of best inventions
Four Israeli technology companies were named to Time magazine’s annual list of best inventions this year for creations “that change the way we live, work, play and think about what’s possible,” the publication said.
The global list of 300 revolutionary inventions includes Apple’s iPhone Duo, AI software that allows non-coders to create websites, and a revolutionary treatment for pancreatic cancer.
Israeli-founded startups that shined in the magazine’s global list of inventions that, according to the magazine, “make the world better, smarter and even a little more fun” are: SpotitEarly, which trains dogs to detect cancer-related scent signatures in human breath samples; Beewise, a developer of robotic beehives using AI; Bria AI, which helps artists earn royalties when their work is used in AI-generated content; and Aidoc, the developer of an AI clinical reasoning engine designed to analyze medical images and clinical data to identify urgent findings and prioritize cases in real time.
To compile the 2026 list, Time requested nominations both from its editors and correspondents around the world and through an online nomination process with a focus on growing areas such as health care, AI and green energy. The jury then assessed each candidate on “key factors including originality, creativity, effectiveness, ambition and impact”.
Founded in 2020, Tel Aviv-based SpotitEarly is the developer of a proprietary system that tracks dogs’ behavioral and physiological responses to human breath samples. The platform uses AI to analyze their signals to determine whether dogs’ highly sensitive noses have detected lung, breast, colorectal or prostate cancer. If they did, CEO Shlomi Madar said, “Our recommendation will be to conduct additional testing.” »
“Some of the most powerful innovations come from rethinking what is possible with the tools that nature has already given us,” Madar said. “As we continue to clinically validate our technology and prepare for our commercial launch next year, we are honored that Time has recognized the potential of our approach to early diagnosis.
Founded in 2018, Beewise is the developer of an autonomous, solar-powered, field-mobile beekeeping robot equipped with sensors and mechanical components.
The robotic hive, powered by AI, monitors bees for diseases, parasites and temperature changes. The system includes a wheeled unit, which can be driven up to the hives and uses robotic arms to reach inside to process the bees, much like a human beekeeper. The technology was developed as a much-needed solution to protect bee populations and help them thrive.
Founded in 2020, Bria, a Tel Aviv-based generative AI startup, is the developer of a visual generative AI platform that helps businesses create, edit and scale commercial images and videos, and market them securely and legally. The platform includes a patented attribution engine that tracks provenance to ensure original creators and rights holders receive appropriate compensation or royalties. The startup was recognized for its Fibo tool designed to pay royalties to artists whose work is reflected in AI-generated content.
“We understand what data was leveraged for the newly generated image, and then we compensate the creator of the original,” said Yair Adato, founder and CEO of Bria. “The tool will cite and even provide access to the exact source of inspiration for everything it produces.”
Aidoc was founded in 2016 and develops medical imaging software designed to detect and identify critical abnormalities using deep learning and AI algorithms. Medical scans are quickly analyzed to help doctors triage patients and prioritize care.
“Rather than detecting a single medical condition, it can recognize a broad range of imaging findings while understanding both medical images and clinical text,” said Tom Valent, chief commercial officer of Aidoc.
Aidoc’s technology is deployed in more than 150 U.S. health systems and 1,600 hospitals worldwide, the company said.
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