Debrecen4U
June 16, 2026
Joint Venture Association Holds Conference on AI and Digitalisation in Debrecen
In a 2026 Volkswagen model, voice-controlled artificial intelligence already assists with safe everyday driving, including temperature control, route planning and even finding restaurants. The global automotive brand places considerable emphasis on the application of this technology, hence the professional conference organised by the Joint Venture Association at its Debrecen dealership on 16 June. The event focused on the digitalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises and the everyday use of artificial intelligence.
“The Joint Venture Association has been one of Hungary’s leading business organisations for forty years, and its member companies account for more than one-third of the country’s GDP. The information and strategic directions communicated by the association can have a significant impact on the development of the Hungarian economy,” emphasised Hajnalka Csorbai, President of the Joint Venture Association.
Experts also discussed the current state of artificial intelligence in Hungary. According to the research presented, AI has already become part of employees’ daily lives, while companies are increasingly using the technology in a growing number of areas to achieve faster and more efficient operations.
Mayor László Papp highlighted that the past decade has been one of the most successful periods in Debrecen’s history from the perspective of economic development. At the same time, this growth has created a number of challenges for small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly in the labour market. For this reason, the extent to which digitalisation can improve the efficiency and competitiveness of businesses is of critical importance. “Multinational corporations have an exceptionally strong presence in Debrecen. In the coming period, digitalisation and efficiency improvements will become fundamental requirements, enabling small and medium-sized enterprises to join the production and value chains that are already directly accessible to them as potential markets,” he pointed out.
The opening keynote address was delivered by Andrea Polereczki, State Secretary for Digitalisation at the Ministry of Science and Technology, who has been working with applications of artificial intelligence since 2008. In her presentation, she discussed how AI can support business operations and the areas in which it can provide a genuine competitive advantage for companies. As she emphasised, simply using browser-based artificial intelligence tools does not in itself constitute technological innovation or genuine digital progress. According to her, some measurements have shown that even the best-performing systems achieved accuracy rates of no more than 50 per cent, meaning they must still be used with caution in a business environment. She also pointed out that introducing the technology is not merely an IT issue but an organisational challenge requiring careful preparation and effective communication with employees, as the emergence of artificial intelligence has created uncertainty among many workers regarding the long-term value and future viability of their jobs.
Source and photo credit: dehir.hu
