The latest Bosch Tech Compass, a survey conducted every two years, was carried out in the fall of 2024 and aimed to provide a more detailed picture of how different nations perceive technological development and its role in society. The survey featured Hungary for the first time.
The findings indicate that for 53% of Hungarians, AI will be the dominant technology of the coming decade. By comparison, 72% of German respondents and 67% of global participants expressed the same view.
Although artificial intelligence ranks as the most significant technology in the eyes of the majority, the survey highlights an underlying ambivalence in Hungarian attitudes toward emerging innovations.
While 65% of respondents globally expressed enthusiasm about understanding how technology works, in Hungary, this figure dropped to 56%, suggesting a more cautious approach to engaging with new developments.
Furthermore, 26% of Hungarians stated that they find the pace of technological change overwhelming, indicating that a significant portion of the population struggles to keep up with rapid innovations and often finds it difficult to adapt.
According to Teodóra Bodó, director of communications and government affairs at Bosch Hungary and the Adriatic region, the findings underscore the importance of providing people with the necessary knowledge and tools to navigate an increasingly digital world.
“The speed at which technology is advancing, particularly artificial intelligence, has accelerated at an unprecedented rate over the past few years. As a company that plays a major role in technological innovation and as one of Hungary’s largest employers, we felt it was essential to conduct this survey domestically. Our goal is to assist people in understanding these changes and help them develop the skills needed to adapt to the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing world,” she explains.
When it comes to individual technologies, the survey found that AI, 3D printing, and 5G connectivity are among the most widely recognized innovations in Hungary.
Industrial robots emerged as the second most significant technology among Hungarian respondents, with 35% selecting them as highly relevant, considerably higher than the 17% global average. The 5G network, which plays a key role in digital infrastructure and connectivity, was ranked as the third most important technology by 32% of Hungarians, which aligns with global trends.
Despite the sense of hesitation that appears in some aspects of the survey, the overall perception of technological progress in Hungary remains primarily positive. The research found that 60% of Hungarians believe that technological advancements will create new opportunities, while only 16% see them as a significant source of risk.
These figures are closely aligned with global attitudes, suggesting that while Hungarians may be more skeptical than some of their international counterparts, they still recognize the benefits of innovation.
A majority of respondents agreed that technological progress contributes to making work more efficient, improving productivity, and enhancing everyday life. However, they also expressed concerns about the potential drawbacks that could arise from these advancements.
The most commonly cited risks associated with technological progress included corporate monopolies (52%), cybersecurity threats (50%), and job losses due to automation (48%). Additionally, 59% of global respondents identified data security issues as one of the most pressing challenges that will need to be addressed in the future.
According to Bodó, the survey highlights a key paradox in how Hungarians view artificial intelligence and technological advancements more broadly.
“This research provides an insightful look into Hungary’s relationship with technology and artificial intelligence. What we see is a clear sense of ambivalence: while AI is expected to bring the most significant benefits, it is also one of the areas that generates the greatest fears,” she notes of the results.
“Given that one-quarter of Hungarians admit they find it difficult to keep up with the speed of technological change, we see an even greater need for support in this area. Our role is to help people use the latest technological developments safely and effectively,” Bodó says.
“Since 2017, we have been sharing brand-neutral educational content on our IoT blog, and since 2021, our podcast series has been dedicated to exploring how technology and digitalization shape everyday life,” she adds.
The Bosch Tech Compass survey was conducted by Gesellschaft für Innovative Marktforschung mbH (GIM) and included participants from seven countries, gathering input from more than 11,000 respondents aged 18 and above. The study took in 1,000 respondents each from France, Germany, Hungary and the United Kingdom, and 2,000 participants from each of Brazil, China, India, and the United States.
The Hungarian respondents were aged between 18 and 69. Throughout the survey, Bosch was not disclosed as the research sponsor in an attempt to ensure an unbiased approach to the data collection and analysis.
This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of March 7, 2025.
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