Generative and agent-based artificial intelligence continue to attract significant investment, yet many organizations are not seeing the expected business returns or only experience slow results. According to a study by EY and Oxford Economics, many companies still run isolated AI applications and pilots, while the rapid arrival of new tools outpaces deployment, operation and performance measurement.
The HVG AI Talks 2026 speakers aim to address these gaps. The one-day conference on November 18 will present concrete AI strategies, tools and workflows, supported by practical workshops to help attendees apply what they learn.
International speakers and key findings
The event at Bálna — an official partner of AI WEEK this year — features international speakers including AI researcher Luc Julia. Julia argues that AI is often portrayed as a “black box” whose workings nobody understands; he stresses that it is both possible and worthwhile to pursue transparency.
This approach is supported by a new analysis from SAS and IDC, which warns of significant business risk if a company cannot see how its AI operates. The report finds that AI is 15 times more likely to deliver returns where attention is paid to transparent operation and reliability.
Emily Genatowski, who was a successful speaker at last year’s event, will also appear. Genatowski, who conducts experimental AI work and lives with a humanoid robot named Tova, emphasizes that the field is rapidly changing and recommends building on each organization’s strengths to start development and experimentation now.
Conference format: plenary sessions and afternoon workshops
The HVG AI Talks program starts at 9:00 and runs all day with plenary sessions, followed in the afternoon by four workshop rooms. Organizers emphasize first-hand practical experience.
Planned topics include the operational handling of AI agents. Although many organizations experiment with such agents, few treat them as digital employees with clear roles, permissions and supervision; instead, opaque “shadow agents” multiply. The conference will discuss how to maintain control over a multi-agent system.
Other focus areas:
- Generative projects and pilots often fail to produce measurable returns: token costs rise while business value does not keep pace. Speakers will explore how to turn a promising pilot into a project with real EBIT impact.
- EU AI Act readiness: the regulation takes effect in August 2026 and provisions for high-risk systems will be directly applicable. The program will cover what domestic companies need to do to embed compliance and how early compliance can create trust advantages while late, administrative compliance can carry legal risk.
- Search and content strategies: classic SEO is being replaced by optimization for generative engines and answer systems. In a zero-click world users get answers in chatbots without clicking through to other sites — if you are not included in those answers, you effectively do not exist. The conference will address how to stay relevant as machine-generated content floods the market.
- Organizational factors: when technology is widely available, differentiation comes from organizational culture, the quality of leadership decisions and the depth of human thinking. AI amplifies existing processes, both good and bad, so success depends on having sound processes and leadership.
Additional programs and access
An introductory experience of the HVG AI Talks practical approach is available via an online webinar by Bernáth Roland, digital business strategist, on September 16 at 9:00 on YouTube. The 90-minute, later viewable webinar will demonstrate how to build an AI that understands a company’s goals, rules and past decisions and supports growth.
Tickets, deadlines and logistics
HVG AI Talks targets those who want to move beyond experimentation to measurable results. A limited 24-hour, 50 percent early-bird discount on conference tickets is available on September 16; tickets can be purchased with this one-time discount on the conference website.
Venue: Bálna, Budapest. The event combines theoretical presentations with hands-on workshops designed to give participants actionable methods to improve AI return on investment.
Significance for Hungarian companies
The conference focuses on practical implementation, compliance and demonstrating business value. Attendees can learn specific tools and workflows to help their technology investments deliver tangible business outcomes while reducing legal and operational risks.
