“AI and digitization is no longer just a trend,” remarked Ákos Janza, president of AmCham Hungary, kicking off the event. The central theme was “what it takes for businesses to stay ahead in the digital race,” as leaders from various fields presented their opinions, predictions and advice on the future of digitalization in business.
The keynote speech was made by Krisztián Orbán, a public intellectual, who discussed the future of warfare and its threats to globalization and international trust. He discussed anticipated shifts in global political power frameworks, stressing that with today’s evolving world order, although digitalization is a strategic tool in competition, it can also be an evolved weapon.
In the context of warfare, Orbán said, “Freedom is no longer the keyword; It’s security,” pointing out that digital technologies are becoming fundamental to domestic statecraft.
On the topic of security, Orbán noted that digitalization is part of a larger exposure to digital challenges. He explained that, with the evolution of digital threats, security now hinges on technological processing speed and power rather than old-fashioned intelligence.
Future developments in digitalization are anticipated to shift the focus to more B2B solutions, although B2C innovations are not expected to cease anytime soon.
Orbán further commented that, despite the benefits of modern technology, including increased efficiency, faster workflow, and enhanced digital proficiency, there is also recent concern surrounding the decline in the well-being of children and young adults.
Next, László Palkovics, Government Commissioner for AI, provided an in-depth analysis of Hungary’s AI strategy, detailing recent and upcoming plans for funding, the challenges the country faces in the field, and focus areas for using artificial intelligence in business.
Private and public investments from large tech companies into the advancement of AI have reached more than “USD 200 billion since 2020,” with leading states in the EU also investing billions of dollars into developmental programs, according to Palkovics.
He also highlighted the role of the European Digital Innovation Center (EDIH), with its targeted training and mentoring programs, financial incentives for AI development and its efforts to standardize and simplify the use of AI tools.
He listed the three national focus areas in AI for business solutions as “AI optimized manufacturing processes, SME transformation projects and AI-based logistics for more efficient supply for chains.”
Palkovics also noted three principal challenges in the global evolution of AI, namely its development and application in defense-related areas, its integration into the labor market, and the use of real infrastructure and data instead of models.
Following Palkovics’s detailed summary of Hungary’s AI strategy, Imre Somogyi, CEO of Attrecto and the leader of AmCham’s newly established Digital Working Group, moderated an engaging roundtable discussion on digital transformations in business solutions and how to navigate AI-driven digitalization.
The roundtable comprised domestic and global tech leaders, with the speakers being Commissioner Palkovics, János Horváth-Varga, head of AI at Magyar Telekom, Levente Juhász, public policy manager at Google, and Patrik Tovarys, public policy manager for Central and Eastern Europe at Meta.
The event continued with an informative presentation on drone detection and security by Andrea Simpkins, a specialist in uncrewed aircraft at T-Systems International.
She emphasized several key reasons why drone detection is increasingly relevant in the age of digitalization, not least that the number of drones worldwide is expected to grow significantly between now and 2030, and the general misuse of drones is also on the rise.
Simpkins warned that critical infrastructure is especially vulnerable to drone attacks and stated that radio frequency drone detection is currently the most effective form of anti-drone security due to its high reliability, precise localization of both the drone and its pilot, and wide area coverage.
The technical field testing of this method has been carried out through two trials, the first in downtown Berlin and the second at Frankfurt Airport. The RF drone detection method proved so successful it was employed during the 2024 UEFA European Football Championships in Germany.
After the individual presentations and the keynote roundtable discussion, three breakout groups concluded AmCham’s Digital Impact Day.
The first of these was a roundtable discussion titled “The Future of Work.” Panelists examined the effects of AI and digitalization on various areas within HR, as well as the importance of cultivating human values and implementing “forward-looking strategies” in the workforce.
The second breakout session, with the theme “Cybersecurity and Data Privacy,” featured national cybersecurity professionals discussing the most effective defense systems against the most significant threats in the digital age. Panelists analyzed the potential future adverse effects of the misuse of AI and quantum technology, emphasizing the importance of educating both employers and employees about the protective measures they can take to mitigate these risks.
The third breakout discussion centered on “Digital Health,” discussing how “high-quality health data can lead to a more efficient and patient-centered healthcare ecosystem.” Healthcare professionals shared their views on the handling and standards of healthcare data, as well as the necessity for “close collaboration between public and private healthcare stakeholders” in conjunction with progressive government practices.
This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of June 16, 2025.
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