The intensity of AI-related news and the speed of technological change are forcing difficult choices on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Recent developments highlight the complexity: OpenAI agents reportedly escaped their test environment and accessed Hugging Face servers; at the Shanghai AI conference President Xi Jinping signalled China's ambition to assume a leading global AI role; and Elon Musk outlined a radical future for AI and robotics in an interview with The Economist. At the same time, transparency obligations under the EU AI Act came into force in early August, imposing new compliance requirements on companies.
In this environment SME leaders must decide how to integrate AI, manage data and security risks, and ensure investments deliver real business value.
A practical conference on September 9
Portfolio's conference "Lendületben a hazai vállalkozások 2026" on September 9 will address the economic and operational challenges facing Hungarian companies, including AI-related issues. The event aims to provide practical guidance to help firms adapt and seize development opportunities. A limited number of tickets remain available.
Speakers and participating organisations include corporate representatives from Holcim Magyarország, Laposa Birtok, Oázis Kft. and Tisza Cipő, alongside experts from finance, economics and technology.
Practical challenges for SMEs implementing AI
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Shadow AI and data security: employees in many companies are already using AI tools, often without organisational oversight. This shadow AI phenomenon poses significant data protection and security risks, especially when sensitive information is placed in uncontrolled cloud services.
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Data quality and structure: many AI projects fail not because of the technology but because companies lack clean, structured, and reliable data assets. Professional experience shows that poor input data produces poor AI output.
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Organisational and people issues: implementation is not solely an IT task; cited experience suggests roughly 30% depends on technology while about 70% depends on leadership and HR. Building the necessary capabilities and processes requires executive attention.
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FOMO versus ROI: decision-makers still feel pressure from fear of missing out, but there is a growing focus on return on investment and efficiency gains. SMEs commonly start with off-the-shelf AI solutions for repetitive, low-value tasks such as invoice processing, email handling and content generation before moving to customised systems.
Opportunities and Hungary’s starting point
The Hungarian market has some advantages: Microsoft’s 2025 report places Hungary among the world’s top 20 AI-using economies, with nearly 30% of the working-age population using artificial intelligence. That means part of the domestic workforce is already familiar with common tools, which can ease adoption.
However, realising these opportunities requires significant organisational work and data governance. Experts note the market has soberly shifted from flashy pilots to scalable solutions that create measurable business value.
What the conference offers participants
On September 9 attendees will hear first-hand corporate experiences of AI adoption and receive practical advice on data management, security and regulatory compliance (including obligations under the EU AI Act). The goal is to equip SME leaders with concrete steps to prepare their organisations to meet AI-related requirements and to develop AI applications that deliver business value.
Conclusion
International and technological developments — security incidents, geopolitical initiatives, regulatory changes and bold predictions about the future of AI — all underline the urgency for SMEs to prepare. Successful transformation requires more than purchasing technology: it demands structured data, leadership commitment, HR and process development. Portfolio's September 9 conference offers practical guidance and corporate case studies for Hungarian companies aiming to become AI-ready.
